Acts 4

And as they spoke to the people, the priests and the commander of the Temple and the Sadducees came up to them,

being greatly upset because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in connection with Jesus the resurrection from among the dead.

And they laid hands on them and put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening.

But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about 5,000.

And it came to pass on the next day that their rulers and elders and experts in the law were gathered together in Jerusalem,

and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high priest’s family.

And when they had placed them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

Then Peter, filled with holy spirit, said to them, “rulers of the People, and elders,

if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was made whole,

be it 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 among the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole.

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

And in no one else is there salvation, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved.”

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed, and they were becoming keenly aware of them, that they had been with Jesus.

And 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 Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves,

saying, “What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a notable sign has been done by them is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it.

But in order that it does not spread any further among the People, let’s threaten them not to speak anymore to anyone in this name.”

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

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

for we are unable to stop speaking about the things that we saw and heard.”

And they, when they had further threatened them, released them, finding no way to punish them because of the people, because everyone glorified God for what had happened,

for the man on whom this miracle of healing had been done was more than 40 years old.

And when they were released, they came to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

And when they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Master, you who made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

who, by the mouth of our father David, your servant, said through holy spirit, Why do the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine worthless 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, there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,

to do whatever your hand and your counsel decided beforehand would happen.

And 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 do signs and wonders through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”

And when they had implored God, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the holy spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

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

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all.

For there was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the price of the things that were sold

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

And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which translated means, “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.