Parallel Bible results for "acts 4"

Acts 4

Common English Bible CEB

1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them.

2 They were incensed that the apostles were teaching the people and announcing that the resurrection of the dead was happening because of Jesus.

3 They seized Peter and John and put them in prison until the next day. (It was already evening.)

4 Many who heard the word became believers, and their number grew to about five thousand.

5 The next day the leaders, elders, and legal experts gathered in Jerusalem,

6 along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others from the high priest's family.

7 They had Peter and John brought before them and asked, "By what power or in what name did you do this?"

8 Then Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answered, "Leaders of the people and elders,

9 are we being examined today because something good was done for a sick person, a good deed that healed him?

10 If so, then you and all the people of Israel need to know that this man stands healthy before you because of the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.

11 This Jesus is the stone you builders rejected; he has become the cornerstone!

12 Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved."

13 The council was caught by surprise by the confidence with which Peter and John spoke. After all, they understood that these apostles were uneducated and inexperienced. They also recognized that they had been followers of Jesus.

14 However, since the healed man was standing with Peter and John before their own eyes, they had no rebuttal.

15 After ordering them to wait outside, the council members began to confer with each other.

16 "What should we do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem is aware of the sign performed through them. It's obvious to everyone and we can't deny it.

17 To keep it from spreading further among the people, we need to warn them not to speak to anyone in this name."

18 When they called Peter and John back, they demanded that they stop all speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus.

19 Peter and John responded, "It's up to you to determine whether it's right before God to obey you rather than God.

20 As for us, we can't stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."

21 They threatened them further, then released them. Because of public support for Peter and John, they couldn't find a way to punish them. Everyone was praising God for what had happened,

22 because the man who had experienced this sign of healing was over 40 years old.

23 After their release, Peter and John returned to the brothers and sisters and reported everything the chief priests and elders had said.

24 They listened, then lifted their voices in unison to God, "Master, you are the one who created the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.

25 You are the one who spoke by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers gathered together as one against the Lord and against his Christ.

27 Indeed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with Gentiles and Israelites, did gather in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

28 They did what your power and plan had already determined would happen.

29 Now, Lord, take note of their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with complete confidence.

30 Stretch out your hand to bring healing and enable signs and wonders to be performed through the name of Jesus, your holy servant."

31 After they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking God's word with confidence.

32 The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, "This is mine!" about any of their possessions, but held everything in common.

33 The apostles continued to bear powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and an abundance of grace was at work among them all.

34 There were no needy persons among them. Those who owned properties or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds from the sales,

35 and place them in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Then it was distributed to anyone who was in need.

36 Joseph, whom the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (that is, "one who encourages"), was a Levite from Cyprus.

37 He owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles.

GOD'S WORD Translation GW

1 Some priests, the officer in charge of the temple guards, and some Sadducees approached Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.

2 These religious authorities were greatly annoyed. Peter and John were teaching the people and spreading the message that the dead will come back to life through Jesus.

3 So the temple guards arrested them. Since it was already evening, they put Peter and John in jail until the next day.

4 But many of those who had heard the message became believers, so the number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.

5 The next day the Jewish rulers, leaders, and scribes met in Jerusalem.

6 The chief priest Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the rest of the chief priest's family were present.

7 They made Peter and John stand in front of them and then asked, "By what power or in whose name did you do this?"

8 Then Peter, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and leaders of the people,

9 today you are cross-examining us about the good we did for a crippled man. You want to know how he was made well.

10 You and all the people of Israel must understand that this man stands in your presence with a healthy body because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You crucified Jesus Christ, but God has brought him back to life.

11 He is the stone that the builders rejected, the stone that has become the cornerstone.

12 No one else can save us. Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person."

13 After they found out that Peter and John had no education or special training, they were surprised to see how boldly they spoke. They realized that these men had been with Jesus.

14 When they saw the man who was healed standing with Peter and John, they couldn't say anything against the two apostles.

15 So they ordered Peter and John to leave the council room and began to discuss the matter among themselves.

16 They said, "What should we do to these men? Clearly, they've performed a miracle that everyone in Jerusalem knows about. We can't deny that.

17 So let's threaten them. Let's tell them that they must never speak to anyone about the one named Jesus. Then the news about the miracle that they have performed will not spread any further among the people."

18 They called Peter and John and ordered them never to teach about Jesus or even mention his name.

19 Peter and John answered them, "Decide for yourselves whether God wants people to listen to you rather than to him.

20 We cannot stop talking about what we've seen and heard."

21 The authorities threatened them even more and then let them go. Since all the people were praising God for what had happened, the authorities couldn't find any way to punish Peter and John.

22 (The man who was healed by this miracle was over 40 years old.)

23 When Peter and John were released, they went to the other apostles and told them everything the chief priests and leaders had said.

24 When the apostles heard this, they were united and loudly prayed to God, "Master, you made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them.

25 You said through the Holy Spirit, who spoke through your servant David (our ancestor), 'Why do the nations act arrogantly? Why do their people devise useless plots?

26 Kings take their stand. Rulers make plans together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'

27 "In this city Herod and Pontius Pilate made plans together with non-Jewish people and the people of Israel. They made their plans against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

28 Through your will and power, they did everything that you had already decided should be done.

29 "Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow us to speak your word boldly.

30 Show your power by healing, performing miracles, and doing amazing things through the power and the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31 When the apostles had finished praying, their meeting place shook. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God boldly.

32 The whole group of believers lived in harmony. No one called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything.

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify that the Lord Jesus had come back to life. [God's] abundant good will was with all of them.

34 None of them needed anything. From time to time, people sold land or houses and brought the money

35 to the apostles. Then the money was distributed to anyone who needed it.

36 Joseph, a descendant of Levi, had been born on the island of Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means "a person who encourages."

37 He had some land. He sold it and turned the money over to the apostles.