CHAPTER 4
While Peter and John
were speaking
to
the
people,
the
priests
and
the
captain
of the
temple guard
and
the
Sadducees
came
up to them,
greatly disturbed
that
they
were teaching
the
people
and
proclaiming
in
Jesus
the
resurrection
of
the dead.
They seized
Peter and John,
and
because
it was
already
evening,
they put them
in
custody
until
the
next day.
along with
Annas
the
high priest,
Caiaphas,
John,
Alexander,
and
many others
from
the high priest’s
family.
They had
Peter and John
brought in
and began to question them:
“By
what
power
or
what
name
did you
do
this?”
If
we
are being examined
today
about
a kind service
to a man
who was lame,
to determine
how
he
was healed,
then let this be
known
to all
of you
and
to all
the
people
of Israel:
It is
by
the
name
of Jesus
Christ
of
Nazareth,
whom
you
crucified
but whom
God
raised
from
the dead,
that
this man
stands
before
you
healed.
Salvation
exists
in
no one
else,
for
there is
no
other
name
under
heaven
given
to
men
by
which
we
must
be saved.”
When
they saw
the
boldness
of Peter
and
John
and
realized
that
they were
unschooled,
ordinary
men,
they were astonished
and
recognized
that
they had been
with
Jesus.
And
seeing
the
man
who
had been healed
standing there
with
them,
they had
nothing
to say in response.
“What
shall we do
with
these
men?”
they asked.
“It is clear
to everyone
living
in Jerusalem
that
a remarkable
miracle
has occurred
through
them,
and
we cannot
deny it.
But
to
keep this message from spreading
any further
among
the
people,
we must warn
them
to speak
no more
to anyone
in
this
name.”
Then
they called
them in again
and commanded them
not
to speak
or
teach
at all
in
the
name
of Jesus.
But
Peter
and
John
replied,
“Judge for yourselves
whether
it is
right
in God’s sight
to listen
to you
rather
than
God.
So
the Council members threatened them fu
and let them go.
They could not find a way
to punish
them,
because
all the
people
were glorifying
God
for
what
had happened.
On their release,
Peter and John returned
to
their
own people
and
reported
everything that
the
chief priests
and
elders
had said
to
them.
When
the believers heard this,
they lifted up
their voices
to
God
with one accord.
“Sovereign Lord,”
they said,
“You
made
the
heaven
and
the
earth
and
the
sea
and
everything
in
them.
You
spoke
by
the Holy
Spirit
through the mouth
of
Your
servant,
our
father
David:
‘Why
do the nations
rage,
and
the peoples
plot
in vain?
The
kings
of the
earth
take their stand
and
the
rulers
gather
together
against
the
Lord
and
against
His
Anointed One.’
In
fact,
this is
the very
city
where
Herod
and
Pontius
Pilate
conspired
with
the Gentiles
and
the people
of Israel
against
Your
holy
servant
Jesus,
whom
You anointed.
And
now,
Lord,
consider
their
threats,
and
enable
Your
servants
to speak
Your
word
with
complete
boldness,
as
You
stretch out
Your
hand
to
heal
and
perform
signs
and
wonders
through
the
name
of Your
holy
servant
Jesus.”
After
they
had prayed,
their
meeting
place
was shaken,
and
they were all filled with
the
Holy
Spirit
and
spoke
the
word
of God
boldly.
The
congregation
of
believers
was
one
in heart
and
soul.
No
one
claimed that
any
of
his
possessions
was
his own,
but
they shared
everything they owned.
With great
power,
the
apostles
continued to give
their
testimony
about the
resurrection
of the
Lord
Jesus.
And
abundant
grace
was
upon
them
all.
There were
no
needy
ones
among
them,
because
those who
owned
lands
or
houses
would sell their property ,
bring
the
proceeds
from
the sales,