Πραξεις 4

1 λαλουντων δε αυτων προς τον λαον επεστησαν αυτοις οι ιερεις και ο στρατηγος του ιερου και οι σαδδουκαιοι

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,

2 διαπονουμενοι δια το διδασκειν αυτους τον λαον και καταγγελλειν εν τω ιησου την αναστασιν την εκ νεκρων

much annoyed because they were teaching the people, and because, through Jesus, they were preaching the resurrection from the dead.

3 και επεβαλον αυτοις τας χειρας και εθεντο εις τηρησιν εις την αυριον ην γαρ εσπερα ηδη

They arrested the apostles and, as it was already evening, had them placed in custody until the next day.

4 πολλοι δε των ακουσαντων τον λογον επιστευσαν και εγενηθη ο αριθμος των ανδρων ωσει χιλιαδες πεντε

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.

5 εγενετο δε επι την αυριον συναχθηναι αυτων τους αρχοντας και πρεσβυτερους και γραμματεις εις ιερουσαλημ

The next day, a meeting of the leaders of the people, the elders, and the teachers of the Law was held in Jerusalem.

6 και ανναν τον αρχιερεα και καιαφαν και ιωαννην και αλεξανδρον και οσοι ησαν εκ γενους αρχιερατικου

There were present Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of High-Priestly rank.

7 και στησαντες αυτους εν τω μεσω επυνθανοντο εν ποια δυναμει η εν ποιω ονοματι εποιησατε τουτο υμεις

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?”

8 τοτε πετρος πλησθεις πνευματος αγιου ειπεν προς αυτους αρχοντες του λαου και πρεσβυτεροι του ισραηλ

Then, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said, “Leaders of the people and elders,

9 ει ημεις σημερον ανακρινομεθα επι ευεργεσια ανθρωπου ασθενους εν τινι ουτος σεσωσται

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,

10 γνωστον εστω πασιν υμιν και παντι τω λαω ισραηλ οτι εν τω ονοματι ιησου χριστου του ναζωραιου ον υμεις εσταυρωσατε ον ο θεος ηγειρεν εκ νεκρων εν τουτω ουτος παρεστηκεν ενωπιον υμων υγιης

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.

11 ουτος εστιν ο λιθος ο εξουθενηθεις υφ υμων των οικοδομουντων ο γενομενος εις κεφαλην γωνιας

Jesus is ‘the stone which, scorned by you the builders, has yet become the corner stone.’

12 και ουκ εστιν εν αλλω ουδενι η σωτηρια ουτε γαρ ονομα εστιν ετερον υπο τον ουρανον το δεδομενον εν ανθρωποις εν ω δει σωθηναι ημας

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.”

13 θεωρουντες δε την του πετρου παρρησιαν και ιωαννου και καταλαβομενοι οτι ανθρωποι αγραμματοι εισιν και ιδιωται εθαυμαζον επεγινωσκον τε αυτους οτι συν τω ιησου ησαν

When the Council saw how boldly Peter and John spoke, and found that they were uneducated men of humble station, they were surprised, and realized that they had been companions of Jesus.

14 τον δε ανθρωπον βλεποντες συν αυτοις εστωτα τον τεθεραπευμενον ουδεν ειχον αντειπειν

But, when they looked at the man who had been healed, standing there with them, they had nothing to say.

15 κελευσαντες δε αυτους εξω του συνεδριου απελθειν συνεβαλον προς αλληλους

So they ordered them out of court, and then began consulting together.

16 λεγοντες τι ποιησομεν τοις ανθρωποις τουτοις οτι μεν γαρ γνωστον σημειον γεγονεν δι αυτων πασιν τοις κατοικουσιν ιερουσαλημ φανερον και ου δυναμεθα αρνησασθαι

“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.

17 αλλ ινα μη επι πλειον διανεμηθη εις τον λαον απειλη απειλησωμεθα αυτοις μηκετι λαλειν επι τω ονοματι τουτω μηδενι ανθρωπων

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.”

18 και καλεσαντες αυτους παρηγγειλαν αυτοις το καθολου μη φθεγγεσθαι μηδε διδασκειν επι τω ονοματι του ιησου

So they called the apostles in, and ordered them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

19 ο δε πετρος και ιωαννης αποκριθεντες προς αυτους ειπον ει δικαιον εστιν ενωπιον του θεου υμων ακουειν μαλλον η του θεου κρινατε

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,

20 ου δυναμεθα γαρ ημεις α ειδομεν και ηκουσαμεν μη λαλειν

for we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard.”

21 οι δε προσαπειλησαμενοι απελυσαν αυτους μηδεν ευρισκοντες το πως κολασωνται αυτους δια τον λαον οτι παντες εδοξαζον τον θεον επι τω γεγονοτι

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;

22 ετων γαρ ην πλειονων τεσσαρακοντα ο ανθρωπος εφ ον εγεγονει το σημειον τουτο της ιασεως

for the man who was the subject of this miraculous cure was more than forty years old.

23 απολυθεντες δε ηλθον προς τους ιδιους και απηγγειλαν οσα προς αυτους οι αρχιερεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι ειπον

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.

24 οι δε ακουσαντες ομοθυμαδον ηραν φωνην προς τον θεον και ειπον δεσποτα συ ο θεος ο ποιησας τον ουρανον και την γην και την θαλασσαν και παντα τα εν αυτοις

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,

25 ο δια στοματος δαβιδ του παιδος σου ειπων ινα τι εφρυαξαν εθνη και λαοι εμελετησαν κενα

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?

26 παρεστησαν οι βασιλεις της γης και οι αρχοντες συνηχθησαν επι το αυτο κατα του κυριου και κατα του χριστου αυτου

The kings of the earth set their array, and its rulers gathered together, against the Lord and against his Christ.’

27 συνηχθησαν γαρ επ αληθειας επι τον αγιον παιδα σου ιησουν ον εχρισας ηρωδης τε και ποντιος πιλατος συν εθνεσιν και λαοις ισραηλ

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 –

28 ποιησαι οσα η χειρ σου και η βουλη σου προωρισεν γενεσθαι

yet only to do what you, by your power and of your own will, did long ago destine to be done.

29 και τα νυν κυριε επιδε επι τας απειλας αυτων και δος τοις δουλοις σου μετα παρρησιας πασης λαλειν τον λογον σου

Now, therefore, Lord, mark their threats, and enable your servants, with all fearlessness, to tell your message,

30 εν τω την χειρα σου εκτεινειν σε εις ιασιν και σημεια και τερατα γινεσθαι δια του ονοματος του αγιου παιδος σου ιησου

while you stretch out your hand to heal, and cause signs and wonders to take place through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 και δεηθεντων αυτων εσαλευθη ο τοπος εν ω ησαν συνηγμενοι και επλησθησαν απαντες πνευματος αγιου και ελαλουν τον λογον του θεου μετα παρρησιας

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.

32 του δε πληθους των πιστευσαντων ην η καρδια και η ψυχη μια και ουδ εις τι των υπαρχοντων αυτω ελεγεν ιδιον ειναι αλλ ην αυτοις απαντα κοινα

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.

33 και μεγαλη δυναμει απεδιδουν το μαρτυριον οι αποστολοι της αναστασεως του κυριου ιησου χαρις τε μεγαλη ην επι παντας αυτους

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.

34 ουδε γαρ ενδεης τις υπηρχεν εν αυτοις οσοι γαρ κτητορες χωριων η οικιων υπηρχον πωλουντες εφερον τας τιμας των πιπρασκομενων

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

35 και ετιθουν παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων διεδιδοτο δε εκαστω καθοτι αν τις χρειαν ειχεν

and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and then everyone received a share in proportion to his wants.

36 ιωσης δε ο επικληθεις βαρναβας υπο των αποστολων ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον υιος παρακλησεως λευιτης κυπριος τω γενει

A Levite of Cyprian birth, named Joseph, (who had received from the apostles the additional name of ‘Barnabas’ – which means ‘The Consoler,’)

37 υπαρχοντος αυτω αγρου πωλησας ηνεγκεν το χρημα και εθηκεν παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων

Sold a farm that belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.