1 A s they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to 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 b eing greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in 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 until the next day, for it was already 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 had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be 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 O n the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;

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 was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.

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 W hen they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you 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 to them, “ Rulers and elders of the people,

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

9 i f we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,

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 l et it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead— by this name this man stands here before you in good health.

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 H e is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.

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

12 A nd there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Threat and Release

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 as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having 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 seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

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 B ut when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another,

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

16 s aying, “ What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live 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 so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any 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 when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all 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 B ut Peter and John answered and said to them, “ Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

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 stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

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

21 W hen they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;

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 more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

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 W hen they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to 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 this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who 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 by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘ Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile 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 ‘ The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers 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 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 peoples of Israel,

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 whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

to do everything You planned and said would happen.

29 A nd now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,

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

30 w hile You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant 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 where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. Sharing among Believers

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 A nd the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

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 were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant 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 F or there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales

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 lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

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

36 N ow Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),

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 a nd who owned a tract of 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.