Acts:4

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Now while they were speaking to the people , the priests , the captain of the temple , and the Sadducees came upon them , * being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead . * And they laid hands on them , and put them in custody until the next day , for it was already evening . * However , many of those who heard the word believed ; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand . * Now it came to pass , on the next day , that their rulers , elders , and scribes were gathered together at Jerusalem , * as well as Annas the high priest , Caiaphas , John , and Alexander , and as many as were of high priestly descent . * And they brought them forward and began to inquire , "By what power or by what name have you done this ?" * Then Peter , having been filled with the Holy Spirit , said to them , "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel : * If we today are being judged for a good work to a weak man , by what means he has been made well , * let it be known to you all , and to all the people of Israel , that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene , whom you crucified , whom God raised from the dead , by this [ name ] this [man ] stands here before you whole . * This is the 'stone which was rejected by you , the builders , which became the chief cornerstone .' * Nor is there salvation in no one else , for there is no other name under heaven which has been given among men by which we must be saved ." * Now when they observed the boldness of Peter and John , and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men , they marveled . And they recognized that they had been with Jesus . * But because they saw standing with them the man who had been healed , they had nothing to say against [them ]. * And they commanded them to go away outside the council , and began to confer among themselves , * saying , "What shall we do to these men ? For indeed , that a known sign has come to pass by them is evident to all those who are dwelling in Jerusalem , and we cannot deny it . * But lest it be spread further among the people , let us threaten them with a threat , to speak no longer in this name ." * And summoning them , they commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach in the name of Jesus . * But Peter and John answered them and said , "Whether it is right before God to hear you rather than God , you judge . * For we can do none other but to speak the things which we saw and heard . * So having threatened them further , they released them , finding no way of punishing them , on account of the people , because they all were glorifying God over that which had occurred . * For the man was over forty , on whom had come about this sign of healing . * And being released , they came to their own , and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them . * So when they heard that , they raised their voice to God with one mind and said : "Lord , You are God , who made heaven and the earth and the sea , and all that is in them , * who by the mouth of Your servant David have said : 'Why did the nations rage , and the people conspired vain things ? * The kings of the earth took their stand , and the rulers were assembled together against the LORD and against His Christ .' * "For truly they were assembled against Your holy Servant Jesus , whom You anointed , both Herod and Pontius Pilate , with the Gentiles and the people of Israel , * to do all that Your hand and Your counsel foreordained to come to pass . * Now , Lord , look upon their threats , and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word , * by extending Your hand to heal , and that signs and wonders may come about through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus ." * And when they had prayed , the place where they were gathered was shaken ; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit , and they spoke the word of God with boldness . * Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul ; neither did anyone say that any of the things belonging to him was his own , but they had all things in common . * And with great power the apostles were giving forth their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus . And great grace was upon them all . * Nor was there anyone needy among them ; for all who were owners of lands or houses were selling them , and were bringing the proceeds of the things which had been sold , * and were placing them beside the feet of the apostles ; and they were distributing to each , to the degree that anyone had need . * And Joses , who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement ), a Levite , a Cyprian by nation , * who , possessing a field , sold it and brought the money and placed it beside the feet of the apostles .

---