Acts
Chapter 4
Overview
Peter and John have just healed a man who had been unable to walk, drawing a crowd at the Jerusalem temple. As they explain that Jesus was raised from the dead, temple authorities intervene. The apostles are arrested and questioned by Jerusalem’s ruling council, but the healed man standing beside them makes their accusers’ position awkward. After their release, the believers pray—not for safety, but for courage. The chapter then turns from public conflict to shared life, showing a community so united that people willingly use their property to meet one another’s needs.
1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to them.
2These leaders were deeply annoyed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming that, in Jesus, the dead will rise.
3They arrested Peter and John and held them under guard until the next day, because it was already evening.
4But many who had heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
5The next day, the Jewish rulers, elders, and experts in the law gathered in Jerusalem.
6Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others from the high priest’s family.
7They made Peter and John stand before them and asked, “By what power, or under whose authority, did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,
9if we are being questioned today because of a kindness done for a disabled man, and you want to know how he was healed,
10then all of you—and all the people of Israel—should know this: This man stands before you healthy through the authority of Jesus the Messiah from Nazareth. You crucified him, but God raised him from the dead.
11Jesus is ‘the stone that you builders rejected, which has become the most important cornerstone.’
12Rescue is found in no one else. God has given humanity no other person under heaven through whom we must be saved.”
13The council members saw how boldly Peter and John spoke and realized that they were ordinary men without formal education. They were amazed and recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
14But since they could see the healed man standing there with Peter and John, they had nothing to say in reply.
15So they ordered Peter and John to leave the council chamber and began discussing the matter with one another.
16They said, “What should we do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that they have performed a remarkable sign, and we cannot deny it.
17But to keep this from spreading any further among the people, let us threaten them and order them never again to speak to anyone under Jesus’ authority.”
18They called Peter and John back and commanded them not to speak or teach at all under Jesus’ authority.
19But Peter and John answered, “Decide for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight for us to obey you instead of God.
20We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21The council members threatened them further and then released them. They could find no way to punish them because of the people, since everyone was praising God for what had happened.
22After all, the man who had experienced this miraculous healing was more than forty years old.
23Once Peter and John were released, they returned to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24When the believers heard this, they joined together in prayer to God: “Sovereign Lord, you made heaven, earth, the sea, and everything in them.
25Through the Holy Spirit, you spoke by the mouth of our ancestor David, your servant: ‘Why did the nations rage? Why did peoples make useless plans?
26The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’
27And that is truly what happened in this city. Herod and Pontius Pilate joined with the non-Jewish nations and the people of Israel against your holy servant Jesus, whom you appointed as the Anointed One.
28They did everything that your power and plan had already determined would happen.
29Now, Lord, take notice of their threats, and enable us, your servants, to speak your message with complete courage.
30Stretch out your hand to heal, and perform signs and wonders through the authority of your holy servant Jesus.”
31After they prayed, the place where they had gathered shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God’s message courageously.
32The whole community of believers was united in heart and purpose. No one claimed that any possession belonged only to its owner; instead, they shared everything they had.
33With great power, the apostles continued to declare that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead, and God’s great favor rested on all of them.
34No one among them was in need. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the money from the sales.
35They placed it at the apostles’ feet, entrusting it to them, and the money was distributed to each person according to need.
36One of them was Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, a name meaning “one who encourages others.”
37He sold a field he owned, brought the money, and placed it at the apostles’ feet.