Acts 4-5

New American Standard Bible

Peter and John Arrested

4 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^(A)the captain of the temple guard and ^(B)the Sadducees ^(C)came up to them, ² being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^[a](D)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them and ^(E)put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the ^[b]message believed; and ^(F)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day, their ^(G)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; ⁶ and ^(H)Annas the high priest was there, and ^(I)Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. ⁷ When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” ⁸ Then Peter, ^[c](J)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “^[d](K)Rulers and elders of the people, ⁹ if we are ^[e]on trial today for ^(L)a benefit done to a sick man, as to ^[f]how this man has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that ^[g](M)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom ^(N)God raised from the dead—^[h]by ^[i]this name this man stands here before you in good health. ^11 [j](O)He is the ^(P)stone which was ^(Q)rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. ¹² And there is salvation in ^(R)no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

Threat and Release

¹³ Now as they observed the ^(S)confidence of ^(T)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and ^(U)began to recognize them ^[k]as having been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. ¹⁵ But when they had ordered them to leave the ^[l](V)Council, they began to confer with one another, ¹⁶ saying, “^(W)What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a ^(X)noteworthy ^[m]miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any longer to any person ^(Y)in this name.” ¹⁸ And when they had summoned them, they ^(Z)commanded them not to speak or teach at all ^[n]in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But ^(AA)Peter and John answered and said to them, “^(AB)Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; ²⁰ for ^(AC)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” ²¹ When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) ^(AD)on account of the people, because they were all ^(AE)glorifying God for what had happened; ²² for the man on whom this ^[o]miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

²³ When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “^[p]Lord, it is You who ^(AF)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, ²⁵ who ^(AG)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

²⁷ For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy ^[t](AK)servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both ^(AL)Herod and ^(AM)Pontius Pilate, along with ^(AN)the ^[u]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever Your hand and ^(AO)purpose predestined to occur. ²⁹ And ^[v]now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to ^(AP)speak Your word with all ^(AQ)confidence, ³⁰ while You extend Your hand to heal, and ^[w](AR)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy ^[x](AS)servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the ^(AT)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all ^(AU)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^(AV)speak the word of God with ^(AW)boldness.

Sharing among Believers

³² And the ^[y]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them ^[z]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but ^(AX)all things were common property to them. ³³ And ^(AY)with great power the apostles were giving ^(AZ)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. ³⁴ For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses ^(BA)would sell them and bring the ^[aa]proceeds of the sales ³⁵ and ^(BB)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be ^(BC)distributed to each to the extent that any had need.

³⁶ Now Joseph, a Levite of ^(BD)Cyprian birth, who was also called ^(BE)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^[ab](BF)Encouragement), ^37 [ac]owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and ^(BG)laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and ^(BH)kept back some of the ^[ad]proceeds for himself, with his wife’s ^[ae]full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he ^(BI)laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(BJ)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(BK)to the Holy Spirit and to ^(BL)keep back some of the ^[af]proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^[ag]under your control? Why is it that you have ^[ah]conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but ^(BM)to God.” ⁵ And as he heard these words, Ananias ^(BN)collapsed and ^[ai]died; and ^(BO)great fear came over all who heard about it. ⁶ The young men got up and ^(BP)covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷ Now an interval of about three hours elapsed, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land ^(BQ)for ^[aj]this price?” And she said, “Yes, for ^[ak]that price.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^(BR)put ^(BS)the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” ¹⁰ And immediately she ^(BT)collapsed at his feet and ^[al]died; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And ^(BU)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard about these things.

^12 [am]At the hands of the apostles many ^[an](BV)signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all ^[ao]together in ^(BW)Solomon’s ^[ap]portico. ¹³ But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^(BX)the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And increasingly ^(BY)believers in the Lord, large numbers of men and women, were being ^(BZ)added to their number, ¹⁵ to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by ^(CA)at least his shadow might fall on any of them. ¹⁶ The ^[aq]people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together as well, bringing people who were sick ^[ar]or tormented with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

¹⁷ But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is ^(CB)the sect of ^(CC)the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They laid hands on the apostles and ^(CD)put them in a public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(CE)an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and leading them out, he said, ²⁰ “Go, stand and ^[as]speak to the people in the temple area ^[at](CF)the whole message of this Life.” ²¹ Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple area ^(CG)about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when ^(CH)the high priest and his associates came, they called ^(CI)the ^[au]Council together, that is, all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison for them to be brought. ²² But ^(CJ)the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported, ²³ saying, “We found the prison locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when ^(CK)the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ^[av]would come of this. ²⁵ But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple area and teaching the people!” ²⁶ Then ^(CL)the captain went along with ^(CM)the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^(CN)they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

²⁷ When they had brought them, they had them stand ^[aw]before ^(CO)the Council. The high priest interrogated them, ²⁸ saying, “We gave you ^(CP)strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and ^[ax]yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^(CQ)intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “^(CR)We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (CS)The God of our fathers ^(CT)raised up Jesus, whom you ^(CU)put to death by hanging Him on ^[ay](CV)a cross. ^31 (CW)He is the one whom God exalted ^[az]to His right hand as a ^[ba](CX)Prince and a ^(CY)Savior, to grant ^(CZ)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are ^(DA)witnesses ^[bb]of these things; and ^(DB)so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

³³ But when they heard this, they became ^(DC)infuriated and nearly decided to execute them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named ^(DD)Gamaliel, a ^(DE)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^(DF)the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For, some time ago Theudas appeared, ^(DG)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined him. ^[bc]But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee appeared in the days of ^(DH)the census and drew away some people after him; he also perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, for if the source of this plan or ^[bd]movement ^(DI)is men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found ^(DJ)fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ They followed his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they ^(DK)flogged them and ordered them not to ^[be]speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. ⁴¹ So they went on their way from the presence of the ^[bf](DL)Council, ^(DM)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^(DN)for His name. ^42 (DO)And every day, in the temple and ^[bg]from house to house, they did not stop teaching and ^(DP)preaching the good news of Jesus as the ^[bh]Christ.