Acts 4

1While they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

2being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming 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.

4But many of those who had heard the message believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand.

5And it happened that on the next day their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem,

6and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family,

7And after setting them in the midst, they began asking, “By what power or in what name did you do this?”

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,”

9If we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a sick man, by what means this man has been healed—

10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus the Messiah the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands before you healthy.

11This is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

12And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

13As they observed the boldness of Peter and John, and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were astonished, and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

15But after ordering them to go outside the council, they began conferring with one another,

16saying, “What should we do with these men? For indeed, a notable sign has happened through them, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”

17But so that it may not spread any further among the people, let us warn them not to speak any longer to anyone in this name.

18And after calling them in, they ordered them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “If it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves.”

20For we are not able not to speak about what we have seen and heard.

21So after further threatening them, they released them, finding no way to punish them because of the people, since everyone was glorifying God for what had happened.

22For the man on whom this sign of healing had happened was more than forty years old.

23After they were released, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24When they heard this, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made heaven and earth and sea, and everything in them,”

25who, through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of David your servant, said: ‘Why did the nations rage, and the peoples devise vain things?’

26The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.

27For truly in this city Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,

28to do whatever your hand and your purpose had predestined to happen.

29And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant your servants to speak your word with all boldness,

30while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

31And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and were speaking the word of God with boldness.

32The multitude of those who had believed were of one heart and soul, and not even one of them said that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were held in common among them.

33And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was upon them all.

34For there was not even any needy person among them, for as many as were owners of fields or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds of what was sold.

35and they were laying them at the apostles’ feet, and it was being distributed to each one according as anyone had need.

36Joseph, who was called Barnabas by the apostles—which translated means son of encouragement—a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

37Since he owned a field, he sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.