The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 4 -

And as they are speaking to the people, there came to them the priests, and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees—

being grieved because of their teaching the people, and preaching in Jesus the resurrection out of the dead—

and they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was evening already;

and many of those hearing the word believed, and the number of the men became, as it were, five thousand.

And it came to pass the next day, there were gathered together of them the rulers, and elders, and scribes, to Jerusalem,

and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the chief priest,

and having set them in the midst, they were inquiring, “In what power, or in what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

if we are examined today concerning the good deed to the ailing man, by whom he has been saved,

be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised out of the dead, in Him has this one stood by before you whole.

This is the stone that was set at nothing by you—the builders, that became head of a corner;

and there is not salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven that has been given among men, in which it is required of us to be saved.”

The Name Forbidden

And beholding the openness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are illiterate men and commoners, they were wondering—they were also taking knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus—

and seeing the man standing with them who has been healed, they had nothing to say against [it],

and having commanded them to go away out of the Sanhedrin, they took counsel with one another,

saying, “What will we do to these men? Because that, indeed, a notable sign has been done through them [is] apparent to all those dwelling in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny [it];

but that it may spread no further toward the people, let us strictly threaten them to no longer speak in this Name to any man.”

And having called them, they charged them not to speak at all, nor to teach, in the Name of Jesus,

and Peter and John answering to them said, “Whether it is righteous before God to listen to you rather than to God, judge;

for we cannot but speak what we saw and heard.”

And they having further threatened [them], let them go, finding no way how they may punish them, because of the people, because all were glorifying God for that which has been done,

for above forty years of age was the man on whom had been done this sign of the healing.

The Believers’ Prayer

(Psalm 2:1–12)

And being let go, they went to their own friends, and declared whatever the chief priests and the elders said to them,

and they having heard, lifted up the voice to God with one accord and said, “LORD, You [are] God, who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all that [are] in them,

who, through the mouth of Your servant David, said, Why did nations rage, and peoples meditate vain things?

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD and against His Christ;

for gathered together of a truth against Your holy child Jesus, whom You anointed, were both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and peoples of Israel,

to do whatever Your hand and Your counsel determined before to come to pass.

And now, LORD, look on their threatenings, and grant to Your servants to speak Your word with all freedom,

in the stretching forth of Your hand, for healing, and signs, and wonders, to come to pass through the Name of Your holy child Jesus.”

And they having prayed, the place was shaken in which they were gathered together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and were speaking the word of God with freedom,

Sharing among Believers

(Acts 2:42–47)

and of the multitude of those who believed, the heart and the soul were one, and not one was saying that anything of the things he had was his own, but all things were in common to them.

And with great power the apostles were giving the testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, great grace was also on them all,

for there was not anyone among them who lacked, for as many as were possessors of fields, or houses, selling [them], were bringing the prices of the thing sold,

and were laying them at the feet of the apostles, and distribution was being made to each according as anyone had need.

And Joses, who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas—which is, having been interpreted, Son of Comfort—a Levite, of Cyprus by birth,

a field being his, having sold [it], brought the money and laid [it] at the feet of the apostles.

As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,

being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening.

But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

In the morning, their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem.

Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest.

When they had stood Peter and John in the middle of them, they inquired, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people and elders of Israel,

if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,

may it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands here before you whole in him.

He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’(a)

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”

The Name Forbidden

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it.

But so that this spreads no further among the people, let’s threaten them, that from now on they don’t speak to anyone in this name.”

They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves,

for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”

When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done.

For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers’ Prayer

(Psalm 2:1–12)

Being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;

who by the mouth of your servant David, said, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?

The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers plot together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.’(b)

(c)

“For truly,(d) both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,

to do whatever your hand and your counsel foreordained to happen.

Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,

while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”

When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Sharing among Believers

(Acts 2:42–47)

The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all.

For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need.

Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,

having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Footnotes

(a)4:11 ℘ Psalms 118:22

(b)4:26 Christ (Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew) both mean Anointed One.

(d)4:27 nu adds “in this city,”