1 ¶ And as they spoke unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

The religious leaders and the leader of the house of God and some of the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead came to Peter and John while they were talking to the people.

2 r esentful that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

They were angry because Peter and John had been teaching the people and preaching that Jesus had been raised from the dead.

3 A nd they laid hands on them and put them in jail unto the next day, for it was now evening.

So they took them and put them in prison until the next day because it was evening.

4 B ut many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand.

But many of those who heard what Peter and John said put their trust in Christ. The group of followers was now about 5, 000 men. Peter Speaks to the Religious Leaders’ Court

5 ¶ And it came to pass on the next day that their princes and elders and scribes

The next day the leaders of the court and the leaders of the people and the teachers of the Law came together in Jerusalem.

6 a nd Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest were gathered together at Jerusalem.

Annas the head religious leader was there. Caiaphas and John and Alexander were there also and all who were in the family of the head religious leader.

7 A nd when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power or by what name have ye done this?

They put the missionaries in front of them and asked, “By what power or in whose name have you done this?”

8 T hen Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye princes of the people and elders of Israel,

Then Peter, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, said, “You who are leaders of the people,

9 i f we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole,

are you asking us today about the good work we did to a man who needed help? Are you asking how he was healed?

10 b e it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole.

You and all the Jews must know that it was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you nailed to a cross and God raised from the dead. It is through Him that this man stands in front of you well and strong.

11 T his is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Christ is the Stone that was put aside by you workmen. But He has become the most important Stone in the building.

12 N either is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men in which we can be saved.

There is no way to be saved from the punishment of sin through anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.” Peter and John Are Free to Go but Are Told Not to Preach

13 N ow when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.

They were surprised and wondered how easy it was for Peter and John to speak. They could tell they were men who had not gone to school. But they knew they had been with Jesus.

14 A nd beholding the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

They were not able to argue about what Peter and John had said because the man who had been healed was standing with them.

15 ¶ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

The religious leaders told Peter and John to leave the court so the leaders could talk together.

16 s aying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is manifest to all those that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

They said, “What should we do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows a powerful work has been done by them. We cannot say that it did not happen.

17 B ut that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them that from now on they speak to no man in this name.

Let us tell them with strong words that they must not speak again to anyone in this name. This will keep the news from going out among the people.”

18 A nd they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Then they called them in and told them they must not speak or teach anymore in the name of Jesus.

19 T hen Peter and John answered and said unto them, Judge whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God.

Peter and John said, “If it is right to listen to you more than to God, you decide about that.

20 F or we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

For we must tell what we have seen and heard.”

21 S o when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way how they might punish them because of the people, for everyone glorified God for that which was done.

After they had spoken more sharp words to them, they let them go. They could not beat them because the people were giving thanks to God for what had happened.

22 F or the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shown.

The man on whom this powerful work of healing had been done was more than forty years old. The Prayer of the Young Church

23 ¶ And being let go, they went to their own company and reported all that the princes of the priests and the elders had said unto them.

As soon as the missionaries were free to go, they went back to their own group. They told them everything the religious leaders had said.

24 A nd when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord, thou art the God, who hast made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them,

When they heard it, they all prayed to God, saying, “Lord God, You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them.

25 w ho (in the Holy Spirit) by the mouth of thy servant David (our father) hast said, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?

You said through the Holy Spirit by the mouth of our father David, ‘Why are the nations so shaken up and the people planning foolish things?

26 T he kings of the earth were present, and the princes were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.

The kings of the earth stood in a line ready to fight, and the leaders were all against the Lord and against His Christ.’

27 F or of a truth against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together (in this city),

You know that Herod and Pilate and the Jews and the people who are not Jews gathered together here against Jesus. He was Your Holy Son and the One You had chosen

28 t o do that which thy hand and thy counsel had determined beforehand must be done.

to do everything You planned and said would happen.

29 A nd now, Lord, behold their threatenings and grant unto thy slaves that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

And now, Lord, listen to their sharp words. Make it easy for your servants to preach Your Word with power.

30 t hat thou might stretch forth thine hand so that healings and signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy slave Jesus.

May You heal and do powerful works and special things to see through the name of Jesus, Your Holy Son!” The Christians Are Filled with the Holy Spirit

31 A nd when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

When they had finished praying, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. It was easy for them to speak the Word of God. The New Way of Life

32 ¶ And of the multitude of those that had believed was one heart and one soul; no one said that anything he possessed was his own, but they had all things common.

The many followers acted and thought the same way. None of them said that any of their things were their own, but they shared all things.

33 A nd with great power the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

The missionaries told with much power how Jesus was raised from the dead. God’s favor was on them all.

34 N either was there any among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold

No one was in need. All who owned houses or pieces of land sold them and brought the money from what was sold.

35 a nd laid them down at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made unto each one according to their need.

They gave it to the missionaries. It was divided to each one as he had need.

36 T hen Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation), a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

Joseph was among them. The missionaries called him Barnabas. His name means Son of Comfort. He was from the family group of Levi and from the country of Cyprus.

37 h aving land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

He had some land which he sold and brought the money to the missionaries.