Acts 4

4 ¹While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the temple captain, and the Sadducees came up to them, ²greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead in Jesus. ³They arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. ⁴But many who heard the message believed, and the men's number reached about 5,000.

⁵The next day their rulers, elders, and teachers of the law gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶with 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. ⁷They stood them in the middle and asked, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"

⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹if we're questioned today about a good deed to a sick man, how he was healed. ¹⁰Know this, all of you and all Israel's people: 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. ¹¹This Jesus is "the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone." ^b b v11 A quote from Psalm 118:22. ¹²Salvation is in no one else; no other name under heaven is given among people by which we must be saved."

¹³Seeing Peter and John's boldness, and realizing they were uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴Seeing the healed man standing with them, they had nothing to say against it. ¹⁵So they ordered them to leave the council, and then they conferred among themselves, ¹⁶saying, "What should we do with these men? A notable sign has happened through them, plain to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷But to stop this from spreading further among the people, let's warn them to speak to no one in this name again." ¹⁸They called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus' name. ¹⁹Peter and John answered them, "You judge whether it's right before our Father to listen to you rather than to him. ²⁰For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

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

The Family Prays Together

²³Once released, they went to their own people and reported all the chief priests and elders had said to them. ²⁴Hearing this, they raised their voices together to our Father and said, "Sovereign Father, you made heaven, earth, sea, and everything in them. ²⁵You 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?" ²⁶The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers gathered together against our Father and against his Anointed."

²⁷For truly, in this city, Herod and Pontius Pilate gathered with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²⁸to do whatever your hand and your plan had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹Now, Father, see their threats, and let your servants speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰as you reach out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders occur through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

³¹After they prayed, the place they were gathered in shook; all were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of our Father boldly.

One Heart, One Family

³²All the believers were one in heart and soul; no one called any possession their own, but held everything in common. ³³With great power the apostles testified to the Lord Jesus's resurrection, and great grace rested on them all. ³⁴No one among them was needy: all who owned land or houses sold them and brought the price of what was sold, ³⁵and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each according to their need.

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