4
Peter and John were speaking to the people. The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to the apostles. 2 They were very upset by what the apostles were teaching the people. The apostles were saying that people can be raised from the dead. They said this can happen because Jesus rose from the dead. 3 So the temple authorities arrested Peter and John. It was already evening, so they put them in prison until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about 5,000. 5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas, the high priest, was there. So were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and other people in the high priest's family. 7 They had Peter and John brought to them. They wanted to question them. ‘By what power did you do this?’ they asked. ‘And through whose name?’
8 Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said to them, ‘Rulers and elders of the people! 9 Are you asking us to explain our actions today? Do you want to know why we were kind to a man who couldn't walk? Are you asking how he was healed? 10 Then listen to this, you and all the people of Israel! You nailed Jesus Christ of Nazareth to the cross. But God raised him from the dead. It is through Jesus' name that this man stands healed in front of you. 11 Scripture says that Jesus is
‘ “the stone you builders did not accept.
But it has become the most important stone of all.” (Psalm 118:22)
12 You can't be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.’
13 The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They also realised that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders. They realised that these men had been with Jesus. 14 The leaders could see the man who had been healed. He was standing there with them. So there was nothing they could say. 15 They ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over. 16 ‘What can we do with these men?’ they asked. ‘Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed an unusual miracle. We can't say it didn't happen. 17 We have to stop this thing. It must not spread any further among the people. We have to warn these men. They must never speak to anyone in Jesus' name again.’
18 Once again the leaders called in Peter and John. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus' name. 19 But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right from God's point of view? Should we listen to you? Or should we listen to God? You be the judges! 20 There's nothing else we can do. We have to speak about the things we've seen and heard.’
21 The leaders warned them again. Then they let them go. They couldn't decide how to punish Peter and John. They knew that all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 The man who had been healed by the miracle was over 40 years old.
4:1–22 The religious leaders opposed Peter and John just like they had opposed Jesus. The apostles claimed that God would raise people from the dead. This had begun with Jesus. This teaching made the leaders very angry. They asked Peter and John about the power they used to heal the beggar. Peter used words from Psalm 118 to explain about Jesus. The leaders hadn't accepted Jesus but had killed him. They didn't believe that he had been raised from the dead. Peter explained that only Jesus could save and heal people. The Holy Spirit helped Peter boldly speak the truth about the Messiah. Peter explained that the apostles couldn't stop telling others about Jesus. They had to obey God instead of the religious leaders. The leaders wanted to punish the apostles. But everyone knew that the disciples had done a miracle.
23 Peter and John were allowed to leave. They went back to their own people. They reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 The believers heard this. Then they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Lord and King,’ they said, ‘you made the heavens, the earth and the sea. You made everything in them. 25 Long ago you spoke by the Holy Spirit. You spoke through the mouth of our father David, who served you. You said,
‘ “Why are the nations angry?
Why do the people make useless plans?
26 The kings of the earth rise up.
The rulers of the earth gather together
against the Lord
27 In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met with the Gentiles in this city. They also met with the people of Israel. All of them made plans against your holy servant Jesus. He is the one you anointed. 28 They did what your power and purpose had already decided should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider the bad things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak your word. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal. Do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were bold when they spoke God's word.
32 All the believers were agreed in heart and mind. They didn't claim that anything they had was their own. Instead, they shared everything they owned. 33 With great power the apostles continued their teaching. They were telling people that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead. And God's grace was working powerfully in all of them. 34 So there were no needy people among them. From time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them. They brought the money from the sales. 35 They put it down at the apostles' feet. It was then given out to anyone who needed it.
36 Joseph was a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas. The name Barnabas means Son of Help. 37 Barnabas sold a field he owned. He brought the money from the sale. He put it down at the apostles' feet.
4:23–37 Peter, John and the other believers prayed to God as the King of everything. They used Scriptures to help them pray. Through the Holy Spirit the writers of the Old Testament had spoken words from God. As the believers prayed, they were honest and humble and full of trust. They described to God the problems they faced. They trusted God to do miracles and mighty works of healing through them. After their prayer, the room they were in was shaken. This reminded the believers that the Holy Spirit was with them. The Spirit gave them boldness to do the work Jesus had given them to do. There were more than 5,000 believers in Jerusalem at that time. They were joined together by their trust in Jesus as their Lord and King. Jesus is the leader who serves others. They followed his example of loving and serving others. They shared all that they had. Everyone had everything they needed. God's grace gave them the power to take care of one another with love.