GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New King James Version NKJV
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.
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Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,
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.
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being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 So the temple guards arrested them. Since it was already evening, they put Peter and John in jail until the next day.
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And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
4 But many of those who had heard the message became believers, so the number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.
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However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5 The next day the Jewish rulers, leaders, and scribes met in Jerusalem.
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And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,
6 The chief priest Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the rest of the chief priest's family were present.
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as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
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?"
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And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"
8 Then Peter, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and leaders of the people,
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Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
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.
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If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been 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.
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let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
11 He is the stone that the builders rejected, the stone that has become the cornerstone.
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This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief 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."
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Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
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.
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Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they 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.
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And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 So they ordered Peter and John to leave the council room and began to discuss the matter among themselves.
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But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred 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.
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saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
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."
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But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name."
18 They called Peter and John and ordered them never to teach about Jesus or even mention his name.
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And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 Peter and John answered them, "Decide for yourselves whether God wants people to listen to you rather than to him.
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But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
20 We cannot stop talking about what we've seen and heard."
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For we cannot but speak the things which we have 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.
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So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.
22 (The man who was healed by this miracle was over 40 years old.)
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For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
23 When Peter and John were released, they went to the other apostles and told them everything the chief priests and leaders had said.
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And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
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.
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So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is 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?
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who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26 Kings take their stand. Rulers make plans together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'
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The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.'
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.
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"For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28 Through your will and power, they did everything that you had already decided should be done.
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to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29 "Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow us to speak your word boldly.
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Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 Show your power by healing, performing miracles, and doing amazing things through the power and the name of your holy servant Jesus."
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by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through 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.
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And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
32 The whole group of believers lived in harmony. No one called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything.
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Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
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.
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And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 None of them needed anything. From time to time, people sold land or houses and brought the money
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Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 to the apostles. Then the money was distributed to anyone who needed it.
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and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
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."
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And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
37 He had some land. He sold it and turned the money over to the apostles.
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having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.