Peter and John Arrested
Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests and athe captain of the temple guard and bthe Sadducees ccame up to them, 2 being greatly agitated because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ain Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and aput them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed, and athe number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5 Now it happened that on the next day, their arulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and aAnnas the high priest was there, and bCaiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 And when they had placed them in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, afilled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “bRulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are being examined today for aa good deed done to a sick man, as to how this man has been saved from his sickness, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that aby the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom bGod raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 aHe is the bstone which was crejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 And there is salvation in ano one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Peter and John Threatened and Released
13 Now as they observed the aconfidence of bPeter and John and comprehended that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were marveling, and cbegan to recognize them 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 aSanhedrin, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “aWhat should we do with these men? For the fact that a bnoteworthy sign has happened through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But lest it spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man ain this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they acommanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But aPeter and John answered and said to them, “bWhether it is right in the sight of God to hear you rather than God, you be the judge; 20 for awe cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) aon account of the people, because they were all bglorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this sign of healing had occurred.
23 So when they were released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Master, it is You who amade the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who aby the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘bWhy did the Gentiles rage,
And the peoples devise vain things?
26 aThe kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His bChrist.’
27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy aServant Jesus, whom You anointed, both bHerod and cPontius Pilate, along with dthe Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and aYour purpose predestined to occur. 29 And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your slaves may aspeak Your word with all bconfidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and asigns and wonders happen through the name of Your holy bServant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed earnestly, the aplace where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all bfilled with the Holy Spirit and began to cspeak the word of God with dconfidence.
Distribution Among Needy Believers
32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one was saying that any of his possessions was his own, but, for them, aeverything was common. 33 And awith great power the apostles were bearing bwitness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses awould sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and alay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be bdistributed to each as any had need.
36 Now Joseph, a Levite of aCyprian birth, who was also called bBarnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of cEncouragement), 37 and who owned a field, sold it and brought the money and alaid it at the apostles’ feet.
Ananias and Sapphira
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and akept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge. And bringing a portion of it, he blaid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has aSatan filled your heart to lie bto the Holy Spirit and to ckeep back some of the price of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your authority? Why is it that you laid this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but ato God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias afell down and breathed his last; and bgreat fear came over all who heard. 6 And the young men rose up and awrapped him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
7 Now there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you were paid athis much for the land?” And she said, “Yes, that much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to aput bthe Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she afell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And agreat fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard these things.
12 Now at the hands of the apostles many asigns and wonders were happening among the people, and they were all with one accord in bSolomon’s Portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, athe people were holding them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever abelievers in the Lord were badded to their number, multitudes of men and women, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that when Peter came by aat least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the multitude from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
The Apostles Jailed and Freed
17 But the high priest rose up and those with him (that is athe sect of bthe Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 And they laid hands on the apostles and aput them in a public jail. 19 But during the night aan angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, and taking them out, he said, 20 “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple athe whole message of this Life.” 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple aabout daybreak and began to teach.
Now when bthe high priest and those with him came, they called cthe Sanhedrin together, even all the Council of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the jailhouse for them to be brought. 22 But athe officers who came did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported back, 23 saying, “We found the jailhouse locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors, but we opened it and found no one inside.” 24 Now when athe captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this. 25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26 Then athe captain went along with bthe officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for cthey were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).
27 And when they had brought them, they stood them before athe Sanhedrin. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We astrictly commanded you not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and bintend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “aWe must obey God rather than men. 30 aThe God of our fathers braised up Jesus, whom you cput to death by hanging Him on a tree. 31 aThis One God exalted to His right hand as a bLeader and a cSavior, to grant drepentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are awitnesses of these things, and bso is the Holy Spirit, whom God gave to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Counsel
33 But when they heard this, they became afurious and intended to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named aGamaliel, a bteacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in cthe Sanhedrin and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, aclaiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who were following him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of athe census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all those who were following him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I also say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action ais of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or you may even be found afighting against God.”
40 So they followed his advice. And after calling the apostles in and abeating them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the aSanhedrin, brejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame cfor the Name. 42 aAnd every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and bproclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
Selection of the Seven
Now in those days, while the adisciples were bmultiplying in number, there was grumbling from the cHellenists against the dHebrews, because their ewidows were being overlooked in fthe daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not pleasing to God for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 Therefore, abrothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, bfull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this need. 4 But we will adevote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.” 5 And this word pleased the whole congregation, and they chose aStephen, a man bfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and cPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a dproselyte from eAntioch. 6 And these they stood before the apostles, and after apraying, they blaid their hands on them.
7 aAnd the word of God kept on spreading, and bthe number of the disciples continued to multiply greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to cthe faith.
Stephen Accused of Blasphemy
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great awonders and signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both aCyrenians and bAlexandrians, and some from cCilicia and dAsia, rose up and were arguing with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to oppose the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they acame up to him, dragged him away, and brought him to bthe Sanhedrin. 13 And they put forward afalse witnesses who said, “This man never ceases speaking words against this bholy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that athis Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and alter bthe customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the aSanhedrin saw his face like the face of an angel.