Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Acts 4
Peter and John Before the Council
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came up to them.
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
They arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening.
But many who had heard the word trusted, and the number of men came to about five thousand.
The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes gathered in Jerusalem,
along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and everyone from the high-priestly family.
They placed Peter and John in the middle and asked, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said, “Rulers of the people and elders,
if we are being examined today because of a good deed done for a sick man, and you are asking how he was made well,
let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: this man stands before you healthy in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead.
This Jesus is
‘the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.’
Salvation is found in no one else, because there is no other name under heaven given among humanity by which we must be saved.”
They Cannot Stop Speaking
When they saw Peter and John’s boldness and realized they were uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. And because they saw the healed man standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. After ordering them to leave the council, they discussed the matter with one another: “What should we do with these men? It is obvious to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable sign has happened through them, and we cannot deny it. But to keep this from spreading any further among the people, let us threaten them so they no longer speak to anyone in this name.” They called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves. We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, the council released them. They could find no way to punish them because of the people, since everyone was glorifying God for what had happened. The man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.
The Community Prays for Boldness
After being released, Peter and John went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and elders had told them.
When the community heard it, they raised their voices together to God: “Master, you are the one who made heaven, earth, sea, and everything in them.
You said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our ancestor David your servant:
‘Why did the nations rage,
and the peoples plan empty things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
and the rulers gathered together
against the Lord
and against his Christ.’
For truly in this city Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,
to do whatever your hand and purpose had determined beforehand would happen.
And now, Lord, look at their threats and grant your servants to speak your word with all boldness,
while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders happen through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God’s word with boldness.
No One Among Them Was in Need
The whole community of those who trusted was one in heart and life. No one claimed that any possession was exclusively their own, but they held everything in common. With great power the apostles continued giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, because those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds from what was sold, and laid the money at the apostles’ feet. It was distributed to each person according to need. Joseph, whom the apostles called Barnabas—which means Son of Encouragement—a Levite and native of Cyprus, owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.