Acts:4:1-31

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* While they were addressing the people the priests , the commander of the Temple , and the Sadducees came upon them , * incensed at their teaching the people , and proclaiming , in the case of Jesus , the resurrection from the dead . * They arrested them , and put them in prison till the next day , for it was already evening . * But many of those who had heard the message believed , and the number of the men came to be about five thousand . * There was held in Jerusalem , next morning , a meeting of their rulers , the elders and scribes , * and Annas , the high priest , Caiaphas , John , Alexander , and all the members of the high priests family were present . * Then they made the men stand before them and demanded , "By what power , or in what name , have you fellows done this ?" * Then Peter , filled with the Holy Spirit , answered them . * "Rulers and elders of the people , if we are being examined today concerning a benefit conferred upon a cripple , as to how has this man been cured , * "be it known to all of you , and to all the people of Israel , that in the name of Jesus Christ , the Nazarene , whom you crucified , whom God raised from the dead , in him does this man stand before you strong and well . * "For he is the Stone , cast aside by you builders , which has become the head stone of the corner . * "There is no salvation in any other , for there is no other name under heaven given among men , in which we must be saved ." * Now when they beheld the glad fearlessness of Peter and John and had perceived that they were amazed ; and they began to recognize them , that they were companions of Jesus . * But since they saw the man standing with them who had been healed , they had nothing to answer . * So they bade them withdraw from the Sanhedrin , while they conferred together . * "What ," said they , "shall we do with these men ? For it is well known throughout Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been performed by them , and we cannot deny it . * "But that the matter may spread no further among the people , let us threaten them not to speak to any one hereafter about this name ." * So they summoned them , and ordered them not to speak at all , nor to teach in the name of Jesus . * But Peter and John said in reply . "Do you decide whether in the sight of God it is right to obey you rather than God ; * but for our part , we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard ." * So when they had further threatened them they let the apostles go , being quite unable to find any way of punishing them because of the people , for everybody was glorifying God over what had happened . * For the man on whom this miracle of healing had been wrought was over forty years old . * As soon as the apostles were released , they went to their friends , and told what the high priests and elders had said . * And when they heard it they all lifted up their voices in prayer to God , saying . "O Sovereign Lord , who madest heaven and earth and sea , and all that in them is , * "who saidest through the Holy Spirit , by the lips of thy servant David , our forefather . "Why did the Gentiles rage , And the peoples form futile plans ? * "The kings of the earth set themselves in array , And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against his Christ . * "In this very city they did gather together against thy holy Servant , Jesus whom thou hast anointed - Herod and Pontius Pilate , with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel - * "to do all that thy power and thy will had predetermined should be done . * "And now Lord , listen to their threats , and grant to thy slaves to proclaim thy message with all boldness , * "whilst thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal ; grant too , that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant , Jesus ." * When they had prayed , the place where they were gathered was shaken ; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit , and began to speak the message of the Lord with boldness .

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