THE BOOK OF ACTS

Acts Chapter 4

1 ¶ As they were talking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, came up to them,

2 Being greatly disturbed because Peter and John were teaching the people, and preaching through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they seized them, and threw them in prison until the next day: for it was already evening.

4 However many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of men came to about five thousand.

5 ¶ And it so happened that on the next day, the rulers, elders, and scribes,

6 As well as Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all the others of the high priest’s family, assembled in Jerusalem.

7 And when they had Peter and John brought before them, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this?

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them, Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

9 If we are being questioned today because of a good deed done to help a crippled man, as to how he was healed;

10 Let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that it is through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, and whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands here before you completely healed.

11 He is the stone which you builders rejected, that has become the cornerstone.

12 Nor is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved.

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and realized that they were unschooled and untrained men, they were amazed; and they knew that they had been with Jesus.

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15 ¶ But after ordering them to wait outside of the council chamber, they conferred among themselves,

16 Saying, What are we going to do with these men? for everyone living in Jerusalem knows that an outstanding miracle has been done by them; and we cannot deny it.

17 But to keep this from spreading any further among the people, let us sternly forbid them, to speak any more to anyone in this name.

18 And they called them in, and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John responded by saying, Decide for yourselves whether it is right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God.

20 For we cannot stop telling the things that we have seen and heard.

21 So when they had threatened them further, they let them go, finding no way in which to punish them, because of the people: for everyone was praising God because of what had happened.

22 For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed, was over forty years old.

23 ¶ After being released, Peter and John returned to their own companions, and told them everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices to God together, saying, Lord, you are he, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and everything that is in them:

25 You said through the mouth of your servant David, Why do the heathen rage, and the people plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers gather together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27 For Herod and Pontius Pilate truly joined together, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, in opposition to your holy child Jesus, whom you anointed,

28 To do everything your hand and counsel long ago decided should be done.

29 And now, Lord, consider their threats: and enable your servants, to speak your word with all boldness,

30 By stretching out your hand to heal; and do signs and wonders in the name of your holy child Jesus.

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled shook; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke the word of God with boldness.

32 ¶ And the entire company of believers was one in heart and soul: and no one called anything he had his own; but they shared everything.

33 And with great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon all of them.

34 Nor were any of them needy or destitute: for from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, and brought the money from the sale,

35 And laid it down at the apostles’ feet: and it was distributed to each man as he had need.

36 There was Joseph, for example, whom the apostles called Barnabas, (which means, Son of encouragement,) a Levite, from the island of Cyprus,

37 Who sold a field that he owned, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.