Acts 4

4 ¹ While Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came up to them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead in Jesus. ³ They arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

⁵ The next day their rulers, elders, and teachers of the law gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ^a a v6 Annas had served as high priest years earlier and still wielded enormous influence; Caiaphas was the current official high priest. ⁷ They made them stand in the middle and began to question them: "By what power or by what name did you do this?"

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today about a good deed done for a sick man, and how he was healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom our Father raised from the dead — by him this man stands before you well. ¹¹ This Jesus is "the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone." ^b b v11 A quote from Psalm 118:22. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved."

¹³ When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it. ¹⁵ So they ordered them to leave the council, and then they conferred among themselves, ¹⁶ saying, "What should we do with these men? For it is plain to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable sign has been done through them, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But to keep it from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them not to speak to anyone again in this name." ¹⁸ So they called them back and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of our Father to listen to you rather than to him, you judge. ²⁰ For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

²¹ After further threats they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for everyone was glorifying our Father for what had happened. ²² For the man who had received this sign of healing was over forty years old.

The Family Prays Together

²³ When they were released, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard it, they raised their voices together to our Father and said, "Sovereign Father, you made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant: "Why did the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? ²⁶ The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers gathered together against our Father and against his Anointed."

²⁷ For truly in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your plan had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ And now, Father, look upon their threats and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰ while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

³¹ When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of our Father with boldness.

One Heart, One Family

³² Now all the believers were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ And with great power the apostles testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ There was not a needy person among them, for all who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold ³⁵ and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each according to their need.

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), ³⁷ sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.