Peter and John Brought Before the Council

1As Peter and John were speaking to the people, the ³⁵priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came to them,

2greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3So they arrested them and took them into custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

4But many who heard the word believed, and the number of men who believed came to about five thousand.

5On the next day, the rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in ³⁶Jerusalem,

6along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were members of the high-priestly family.

7After making Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders ³⁷of Israel,

9if we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man and by what means he has been healed,

10let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead.

11This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

12There is salvation in no other, for there is no other ³⁸name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and when they realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.

14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

15So they ordered Peter and John to step out from the Sanhedrin while they conferred with one another,

16saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them, and we cannot deny it.

17But so that it may not spread any further among the people, ³⁹let us ⁴⁰strictly warn them to speak no more in this name to ⁴¹any of the people.”

18Then they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge.

20For we cannot help but speak about what we have seen and heard.”

21So after threatening Peter and John further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

22For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23After being released, Peter and John went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24When they heard this, they lifted up their voices with one accord to God and said, “Master, yoʋ ⁴²are God, who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them.

25It is yoʋ ⁴³who said through the mouth of yoʋr servant David,
‘Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot foolish things?

26The kings of the earth stand up,
and the rulers are gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed.’

27For ⁴⁴indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against yoʋr holy servant Jesus, whom yoʋ anointed,

28to do whatever yoʋr hand and yoʋr plan had foreordained to take place.

29And now, Lord, take note of their threats and grant it to yoʋr servants to speak yoʋr word with all boldness,

30as yoʋ stretch out yoʋr hand to heal and to perform signs and wonders through the name of yoʋr holy servant Jesus.”

31After they prayed, the place where they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking the word of God with boldness.

The Believers Share Their Belongings

32Now the hearts and souls of the multitude of believers were one, and no one was saying that any of ⁴⁵their belongings was his own, but everything they owned was held in common.

33With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

34There was no one needy among them, for all who owned plots of land or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.

35They laid the money at the feet of the apostles, and the proceeds were distributed to anyone who had need.

36⁴⁶Joses, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”), a Levite and Cypriot by birth,

37also sold a field he owned and then brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.