THE
BOOK OF ACTS
Acts Chapter 4
1
¶ As they were talking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees, came up to them,
2
Being greatly disturbed because Peter and John were teaching the people, and
preaching through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3
And they seized them, and threw them in prison until the next day: for
it was already evening.
4
However many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of men came
to about five thousand.
5
¶ And it so happened that on the next day, the rulers, elders, and scribes,
6
As well as Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and
all the others of the high priest’s family, assembled in Jerusalem.
7
And when they had Peter and John brought before them, they asked, By what
power, or by what name, have you done this?
8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them, Rulers of the people, and
elders of Israel,
9
If we are being questioned today because of a good deed done to help a crippled
man, as to how he was healed;
10
Let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that it is
through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, and
whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands here before you completely
healed.
11
He is the stone which you builders rejected, that has become the cornerstone.
12
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
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and realized that they were
unschooled and untrained men, they were amazed; and they knew that they had
been with Jesus.
14
And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say
nothing against it.
15
¶ But after ordering them to wait outside of the council chamber, they
conferred among themselves,
16
Saying, What are we going to do with these men? for everyone living in
Jerusalem knows that an outstanding miracle has been done by them; and we
cannot deny it.
17
But to keep this from spreading any further among the people, let us sternly
forbid them, to speak any more to anyone in this name.
18
And they called them in, and ordered them not to speak or teach at all
in the name of Jesus.
19
But Peter and John responded by saying, Decide for yourselves whether it is
right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God.
20
For we cannot stop telling the things that we have seen and heard.
21
So when they had threatened them further, they let them go, finding no way in
which to punish them, because of the people: for everyone was praising God
because of what had happened.
22
For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed, was over forty years
old.
23
¶ After being released, Peter and John returned to their own companions, and
told them everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices to God together, saying, Lord,
you are he, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and everything that
is in them:
25
You said through the mouth of your servant David, Why do the heathen rage, and
the people plot in vain?
26
The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers gather together against
the Lord, and against his Christ.
27
For Herod and Pontius Pilate truly joined together, with the Gentiles, and the
people of Israel, in opposition to your holy child Jesus, whom you anointed,
28
To do everything your hand and counsel long ago decided should be done.
29
And now, Lord, consider their threats: and enable your servants, to speak your
word with all boldness,
30
By stretching out your hand to heal; and do signs and wonders in the name of
your holy child Jesus.
31
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled shook; and they
were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke the word of God with boldness.
32
¶ And the entire company of believers was one in heart and soul: and no one
called anything he had his own; but they shared everything.
33
And with great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus: and great grace was upon all of them.
34
Nor were any of them needy or destitute: for from time to time
those who owned lands or houses sold them, and brought the money from the sale,
35
And laid it down at the apostles’ feet: and it was distributed to each
man as he had need.
36
There was Joseph, for example, whom the apostles called Barnabas, (which
means, Son of encouragement,) a Levite, from the island of Cyprus,
37
Who sold a field that he owned, and brought the money, and laid it
at the apostles’ feet.