Acts 4

Peter and John Arrested

1Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the #Matt. 22:23Sadducees came upon them, 2being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

Addressing the Sanhedrin

5And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6as well as #Luke 3:2; John 11:49; 18:13Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, #Ex. 2:14; Matt. 21:23; Acts 7:27“By what power or by what name have you done this?”

8#Luke 12:11, 12Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, #Acts 2:22; 3:6, 16that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, #Acts 2:24whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11This is the #Ps. 118:22; Is. 28:16; Matt. 21:42‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12#Is. 42:1, 6, 7; 53:11; Dan. 9:24; (Matt. 1:21; John 14:6; Acts 10:43; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6)Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

The Name of Jesus Forbidden

13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, #Matt. 11:25; (1 Cor. 1:27)and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed #Acts 3:11standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16saying, #John 11:47“What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is #Acts 3:7–10evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

18#Acts 5:28, 40So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, #Acts 5:29“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20#Acts 1:8; 2:32For we cannot but speak the things which #Acts 22:15; (1 John 1:1, 3)we have seen and heard.” 21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, #Matt. 21:26; Luke 20:6, 19; 22:2; Acts 5:26because of the people, since they all #Matt. 15:31glorified God for #Acts 3:7, 8what had been done. 22For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Prayer for Boldness

23And being let go, #Acts 2:44–46; 12:12they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, #Ex. 20:11; 2 Kin. 19:15; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 146:6You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

#Ps. 2:1, 2‘Why did the nations rage,

And the people plot vain things?

26The kings of the earth took their stand,

And the rulers were gathered together

Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

27“For #Matt. 26:3; Luke 22:2; 23:1, 8truly against #(Luke 1:35)Your holy Servant Jesus, #Luke 4:18; John 10:36whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28#Acts 2:23; 3:18to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants #Acts 4:13, 31; 9:27; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8; 26:26; Eph. 6:19that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30by stretching out Your hand to heal, #Acts 2:43; 5:12and that signs and wonders may be done #Acts 3:6, 16through the name of #Acts 4:27Your holy Servant Jesus.”

31And when they had prayed, #Matt. 5:6; Acts 2:2, 4; 16:26the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, #Acts 4:29and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Sharing in All Things

32Now the multitude of those who believed #Acts 5:12; Rom. 15:5, 6; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 1:27; 2:2; 1 Pet. 3:8were of one heart and one soul; #Acts 2:44neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33And with #(Acts 1:8)great power the apostles gave #Acts 1:22witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And #Rom. 6:15great grace was upon them all. 34Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; #(Matt. 19:21); Acts 2:45for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35#Acts 4:37; 5:2and laid them at the apostles’ feet; #Acts 2:45; 6:1and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

36And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37#Acts 4:34, 35; 5:1, 2having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

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Acts 4: NKJV

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