Acts 4

Peter and John Arrested

1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and 1the captain of the temple guard and 2the Sadducees 3came up to them,
2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming 4in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them and 5put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.
4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and 6the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5 On the next day, their 7rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;
6 and 8Annas the high priest was there, and 9Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.
7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?"
8 Then Peter, 10filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "11Rulers and elders of the people,
9 if we are on trial today for 12a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,
10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that 13by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom 14God raised from the dead -by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
11 "15He is the 16STONE WHICH WAS 17REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.
12 "And there is salvation in 18no * 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

13 Now as they observed the 19confidence of 20Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and 21began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.
15 But when they had ordered them to leave the 22Council, they began to confer with one another,
16 saying, "23What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a 24noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot * deny it.
17 "But so that it will not spread any further * among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man 25in this name."
18 And when they had summoned them, they 26commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But 27Peter and John answered and said to them, "28Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;
20 for 29we cannot * stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."
21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) 30on account of the people, because they were all 31glorifying God for what had happened;
22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who 32MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM
25 who 33by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, '34WHY * DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?
26 '35THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER * * AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS 36CHRIST.'
27 For truly * in this city there were gathered together against Your holy 37servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both 38Herod and 39Pontius Pilate, along with 40the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28 to do whatever Your hand and 41Your purpose predestined to occur.
29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may 42speak Your word with all 43confidence,
30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and 44signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy 45servant Jesus."
31 And when they had prayed, the 46place where * they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all 47filled with the Holy Spirit and began to 48speak the word of God with 49boldness.

Sharing among Believers

32 And 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 50all things were common property to them.
33 And 51with great power the apostles were giving 52testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses 53would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales
35 and 54lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be 55distributed to each as any had need.
36 Now Joseph, a Levite of 56Cyprian birth, who was also called 57Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of 58Encouragement ),
37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and 59laid it at the apostles' feet.

Images for Acts 4

Cross References 59

Footnotes 28

Acts 4 Commentaries

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.