New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them,
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And while they were talking to the people, the priests and the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came up to them,
2 much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead.
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Being greatly troubled because they were teaching the people and preaching Jesus as an example of the coming back from the dead.
3 So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
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And they took them and put them in prison till the morning, for it was now evening.
4 But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.
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But a number of those who gave hearing to the word had faith; and they were now about five thousand.
5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,
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And on the day after, the rulers and those in authority and the scribes came together in Jerusalem;
6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
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And Annas, the high priest, was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all the relations of the high priest.
7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"
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Then sending for Peter and John, they said, By what power and in whose name have you done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,
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Then Peter, being full of the Holy Spirit, said to them, O you rulers of the people and men of authority,
9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed,
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If we are questioned today about a good work done to a man who was ill, as to how he has been made well,
10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.
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Take note, all of you, and all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you put to death on the cross, whom God gave back from the dead, even through him is this man now before you completely well.
11 This Jesus is "the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.'
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He is the stone which you builders had no use for, but which has been made the chief stone of the building.
12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."
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And in no other is there salvation: for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, through which we may have salvation.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.
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Now when they saw that Peter and John were without fear, though they were men of no education or learning, they were greatly surprised; and they took note of them that they had been with Jesus.
14 When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
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And, seeing that the man who had been made well was there with them, they were not able to say anything against it.
15 So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another.
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But when they had given them orders to go out of the Sanhedrin, they had a discussion among themselves,
16 They said, "What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it.
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Saying, What are we to do with these men? for certainly it is clear to all who are living in Jerusalem that a most important sign has been done by them, and it is not possible to say that it is not so.
17 But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name."
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But so that it may not go farther among the people, let us put them in fear of punishment if they say anything in future in this name.
18 So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
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And they sent for them, and gave them orders not to make statements or give teaching in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;
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But Peter and John in answer said to them, It is for you to say if it is right in the eyes of God to give attention to you more than to God:
20 for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard."
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For it is not possible for us to keep from saying what we have seen and have knowledge of.
21 After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened.
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And when they had said more sharp words to them, they let them go, not seeing what punishment they might give them, because of the people; for all men were giving praise to God for what had taken place.
22 For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.
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For the man on whom this act of power was done was more than forty years old.
23 After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
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And when they had been made free, they came back to their friends, and gave an account of all the things which the chief priests and the authorities had said to them.
24 When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them,
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And hearing it, they all, with one mind, made prayer to God and said, O Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all things in them:
25 it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: "Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?
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Who has said, by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David your servant, Why are the nations so violently moved, and why are the thoughts of the people so foolish?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'
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The kings of the earth were lifted up, the rulers came together, against the Lord, and against his Christ:
27 For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,
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For, truly, in this town, against your holy servant, Jesus, who was marked out by you as Christ, Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, came together,
28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
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To do that which had been fixed before by your hand and your purpose.
29 And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,
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And now, Lord, take note of their cruel words, and give your servants power to be preachers of your word without fear,
30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
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While your hand is stretched out to do works of mercy; so that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
31 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
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And when their prayer was ended, the place where they were was violently moved, and they all became full of the Holy Spirit, preaching the word of God without fear.
32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.
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And all those who were of the faith were one in heart and soul: and not one of them said that any of the things which he had was his property only; but they had all things in common.
33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
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And with great power the Apostles gave witness of the coming back of the Lord Jesus from the dead; and grace was on them all.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.
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And no one among them was in need; for everyone who had land or houses, exchanging them for money, took the price of them,
35 They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
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And put it at the feet of the Apostles for distribution to everyone as he had need.
36 There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement").
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And Joseph, who was given by the Apostles the name of Barnabas (the sense of which is, Son of comfort), a Levite and a man of Cyprus by birth,
37 He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
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Having a field, got money for it and put the money at the feet of the Apostles.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.