Acts 4
1 While Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the chief priest, with the officer in charge at the Temple and the Sadducees, came up to them,
While they were saying this to the people, the Priests, the Commander of the Temple Guard, and the Sadducees came upon them,
2 much annoyed because they were teaching the people, and because, through Jesus, they were preaching the resurrection from the dead.
highly incensed at their teaching the people and proclaiming in the case of Jesus the Resurrection from among the dead.
3 They arrested the apostles and, as it was already evening, had them placed in custody until the next day.
They arrested the two Apostles and lodged them in custody till the next day; for it was already evening.
4 Many, however, of those who had heard the apostles’ message became believers in Christ, the number of the men alone amounting to about five thousand.
But many of those who had listened to their preaching believed; and the number of the adult men had now grown to be about 5,000.
5 The next day, a meeting of the leaders of the people, the elders, and the teachers of the Law was held in Jerusalem.
The next day a meeting was held in Jerusalem of their Rulers, Elders, and Scribes,
6 There were present Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of High-Priestly rank.
with Annas the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the other members of the high-priestly family.
7 They had Peter and John brought before them, and questioned them. ‘By what power,’ they asked, ‘Or in whose name have men like you done this thing?’
So they made the Apostles stand in the centre, and demanded of them, "By what power or in what name have you done this?"
8 Then, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said, ‘Leaders of the people and elders,
Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he replied, "Rulers and Elders of the people,
9 since we are on our trial today for a kind act done to a helpless man, and are asked in what way the man here before you has been cured,
if we to-day are under examination concerning the benefit conferred on a man helplessly lame, as to how this man has been cured;
10 let me tell you all and all the people of Israel, that it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead – it is, I say, by his name that this man stands here before you lame no longer.
be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that through the name of Jesus the Anointed, the Nazarene, whom you crucified, but whom God has raised from among the dead-- through that name this man stands here before you in perfect health.
11 Jesus is “the stone which, scorned by you the builders, has yet become the corner stone.”
This Jesus is the Stone treated with contempt by you the builders, but it has been made the Cornerstone.
12 And salvation is in him alone; for there is no other name in the whole world, given to people, to which we must look for our salvation.’
And in no other is the great salvation to be found; for, in fact, there is no second name under Heaven that has been given among men through which we are to be saved."
13 When the Council saw how boldly Peter and John spoke, and found that they were uneducated men of humble station, they were surprised, and realised that they had been companions of Jesus.
As they looked on Peter and John so fearlessly outspoken--and also discovered that they were illiterate persons, untrained in the schools--they were surprised; and now they recognized them as having been with Jesus.
14 But, when they looked at the man who had been healed, standing there with them, they had nothing to say.
And seeing the man standing with them--the man who had been cured--they had no reply to make.
15 So they ordered them out of court, and then began consulting together.
So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin while they conferred among themselves.
16 ‘What are we to do to these men?’ they asked one another. ‘That a remarkable sign has been given through them is obvious to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
"What are we to do with these men?" they asked one another; for the fact that a remarkable miracle has been performed by them is well known to every one in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 But, to prevent this thing from spreading further among the people, let us warn them not to speak in this name any more to anyone whatever.’
But to prevent the matter spreading any further among the people, let us stop them by threats from speaking in the future in this name to any one whatever."
18 So they called the apostles in, and ordered them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
So they recalled the Apostles, and ordered them altogether to give up speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied, ‘Whether it is right, in the sight of God, to listen to you rather than to him – judge for yourselves,
But Peter and John replied, "Judge whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you instead of listening to God.
20 for we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard.’
As for us, what we have seen and heard we cannot help speaking about."
21 However, after further warnings, the Council set them at liberty, not seeing any safe way of punishing them, because of the people, for they were all praising God for what had occurred;
The Court added further threats and then let them go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them on account of the people, because all gave God the glory for the thing that had happened.
22 for the man who was the subject of this miraculous cure was more than forty years old.
For the man was over forty years of age on whom this miracle of restoration to health had been performed.
23 After they had been set at liberty, the apostles went to their friends and told them what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
After their release the two Apostles went to their friends, and told them all that the High Priests and Elders had said.
24 All who heard their story, moved by a common impulse, raised their voices to God in prayer: ‘Sovereign Lord, it is you who has made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them,
And they, upon hearing the story, all lifted up their voices to God and said, "O Sovereign Lord, it is Thou who didst make Heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them,
25 and who, by the lips of our ancestor, your servant David, who spoke under the influence of the Holy Spirit, have said – “Why did the nations rage, and the peoples form vain designs?
and didst say through the Holy Spirit by the lips of our forefather David Thy servant, "'Why have the nations stamped and raged, and the peoples formed futile plans?
26 The kings of the earth set their array, and its rulers gathered together, against the Lord and against his Christ.”
The kings of the earth came near, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Anointed.'"
27 There have indeed gathered together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you has consecrated the Christ, not Herod and Pontius Pilate only, but the nations and the people of Israel besides –
"They did indeed assemble in this city in hostility to Thy holy Servant Jesus whom Thou hadst anointed--Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel--
28 yet only to do what you, by your power and of your own will, did long ago destine to be done.
to do all that Thy power and Thy will had predetermined should be done.
29 Now, therefore, Lord, mark their threats, and enable your servants, with all fearlessness, to tell your message,
And now, Lord, listen to their threats, and enable Thy servants to proclaim Thy Message with fearless courage,
30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and cause signs and wonders to take place through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’
whilst Thou stretchest out Thine arm to cure men, and to give signs and marvels through the name of Thy holy Servant Jesus."
31 When their prayer was ended, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to tell God’s message fearlessly.
When they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were, one and all, filled with the Holy Spirit, and proceeded to tell God's Message with boldness.
32 The whole body of those who had become believers in Christ were of one heart and mind. Not one of them claimed any of his goods as his own, but everything was held for the common use.
Among all those who had embraced the faith there was but one heart and soul, so that none of them claimed any of his possessions as his own, but everything they had was common property;
33 The apostles continued with great power to bear their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s blessing rested on them all abundantly.
while the Apostles with great force of conviction delivered their testimony as to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone in need among them, for all who were owners of land or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the sales
And, in fact, there was not a needy man among them, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the money which they realised,
35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and then everyone received a share in proportion to his wants.
and gave it to the Apostles, and distribution was made to every one according to his wants.
36 A Levite of Cyprian birth, named Joseph, (who had received from the apostles the additional name of “Barnabas” – which means “The Consoler,”)
In this way Joseph, whom the Apostles gave the name of Bar-nabas--signifying 'Son of Encouragement' --a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
37 Sold a farm that belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
sold a farm which he had, and brought the money and gave it to the Apostles.
