Acts 4:13-37

Threat and Release

13 Now as they observed the ¹confidence of ²Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and ³began 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 ⁴Council, they began to confer with one another,

16 saying, "⁵What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a ⁶noteworthy 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 ⁷in this name."

18 And when they had summoned them, they ⁸commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But ⁹Peter and John answered and said to them, "¹⁰Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

20 for ¹¹we 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) ¹²on account of the people, because they were all ¹³glorifying 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 ¹⁴MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM

25 who ¹⁵by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, '¹⁶WHY * DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?

26 '¹⁷THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER * * AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ¹⁸CHRIST.'

27 For truly * in this city there were gathered together against Your holy ¹⁹servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both ²⁰Herod and ²¹Pontius Pilate, along with ²²the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

28 to do whatever Your hand and ²³Your purpose predestined to occur.

29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may ²⁴speak Your word with all ²⁵confidence,

30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and ²⁶signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy ²⁷servant Jesus."

31 And when they had prayed, the ²⁸place where * they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all ²⁹filled with the Holy Spirit and began to ³⁰speak the word of God with ³¹boldness.

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 ³²all things were common property to them.

33 And ³³with great power the apostles were giving ³⁴testimony 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 ³⁵would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales

35 and ³⁶lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be ³⁷distributed to each as any had need.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite of ³⁸Cyprian birth, who was also called ³⁹Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ⁴⁰Encouragement ),

37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and ⁴¹laid it at the apostles' feet.

Cross References

• 1. Acts 4:31
• 2. Luke 22:8; Acts 4:19
• 3. John 7:15
• 4. Matthew 5:22
• 5. John 11:47
• 6. Acts 3:7-10
• 7. John 15:21
• 8. Acts 5:28
• 9. Acts 4:13
• 10. Acts 5:28
• 11. 1 Corinthians 9:16
• 12. Acts 5:26
• 13. Matthew 9:8
• 14. Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalms 146:6
• 15. Acts 1:16
• 16. Psalms 2:1
• 17. Psalms 2:2
• 18. Daniel 9:24; Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38; Hebrews 1:9
• 19. Acts 3:13; Acts 4:30
• 20. Matthew 14:1; Luke 23:7-11
• 21. Matthew 27:2; Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1, 12; John 18:28, 29
• 22. Matthew 20:19
• 23. Acts 2:23
• 24. Philippians 1:14
• 25. Acts 4:13, 31; Acts 14:3
• 26. John 4:48
• 27. Acts 3:13; Acts 4:27
• 28. Acts 2:1
• 29. Acts 2:4
• 30. Philippians 1:14
• 31. Acts 4:13; Acts 14:3
• 32. Acts 2:44
• 33. Acts 1:8
• 34. Luke 24:48
• 35. Matthew 19:21; Acts 2:45
• 36. Acts 4:37; Acts 5:2
• 37. Acts 2:45; Acts 6:1
• 38. Acts 11:19; Acts 13:4; Acts 15:39; Acts 21:3, 16; Acts 27:4
• 39. Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22, 30; Acts 12:25; Acts 13:1, 2, 7; 1 Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 2:1, 9, 13; Colossians 4:10
• 40. Acts 2:40; Acts 11:23; Acts 13:15; 1 Corinthians 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:3
• 41. Acts 4:35; Acts 5:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "that they had been"
• [b]. Or "Sanhedrin"
• [c]. Or "sign"
• [d]. Or "on the basis of"
• [e]. Or "sign"
• [f]. Or "Master"
• [g]. Or "nations"
• [h]. Or "approached"
• [i]. Or "Anointed One;" i.e. Messiah
• [j]. Or "Son"
• [k]. Or "nations"
• [l]. Or "as for the present situation"
• [m]. Or "attesting miracles"
• [n]. Or "Son"
• [o]. Or "multitude"
• [p]. Lit "was saying"
• [q]. Lit "the prices of the things being sold"
• [r]. Or "Exhortation" or "Consolation"