Act 4 | NASB1995 | STEP | As they were speaking to the people , the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

Acts 4

Peter and John Arrested

1 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 disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^{▼▼ Or in the case of
,} ^ein Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and ^fput them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the ^{▼▼ Lit word}message believed; and ^hthe number of the men came to be about five thousand.

5 On the next day, their ⁱrulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and ^jAnnas the high priest was there, and ^kCaiaphas and 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, ^{▼▼ Or having just been filled
,} ^mfilled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ^{▼▼ Lit Rulers of the people and elders
,} ^o“Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are ^{▼▼ Lit answering}on trial today for ^qa benefit done to a sick man, ^{▼▼ Or by whom}as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that ^{▼▼ Or in
,} ^tby the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom ^uGod raised from the dead— ^{▼▼ Or in}by ^{▼▼ Or Him}this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 ^{▼▼ Lit This One
,} ^y“He is the ^z stone which was ^aa rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 “And there is salvation in ^abno one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Threat and Release

13 Now as they observed the ^acconfidence of ^adPeter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and ^ae began to recognize them ^{▼▼ Lit that they had been}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 ^{▼▼ Or Sanhedrin
,} ^ahCouncil, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, ^ai“What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a ^ajnoteworthy ^{▼▼ Or sign}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 us warn them to speak no longer to any man ^alin this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they ^amcommanded them not to speak or teach at all ^{▼▼ Or on the basis of}in the name of Jesus. 19 But ^aoPeter and John answered and said to them, ^ap“Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for ^aqwe 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) ^aron account of the people, because they were all ^asglorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this ^{▼▼ Or sign}miracle of healing had been performed.

23 When they had been 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 ^{▼▼ Or Master}Lord, it is You who ^av made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who ^awby the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘ ^ax Why did the ^{▼▼ Or nations} Gentiles rage,
And the peoples devise futile things?
26 ‘ ^az The kings of the earth ^{▼▼ Or approached} took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His ^{▼▼ Or Anointed One; i.e. Messiah
,} ^bc Christ.’

27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy ^{▼▼ Or Son
,} ^beservant Jesus, whom You anointed, both ^bfHerod and ^bgPontius Pilate, along with ^bhthe ^{▼▼ Or nations}Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and ^bjYour purpose predestined to occur. 29 “And ^{▼▼ Or as for the present situation}now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may ^blspeak Your word with all ^bmconfidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and ^{▼▼ Or attesting miracles
,} ^bosigns and wonders take place through the name of Your holy ^{▼▼ Or Son
,} ^bqservant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the ^brplace where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all ^bsfilled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^btspeak the word of God with ^buboldness.

Sharing among Believers

32 And the ^{▼▼ Or multitude}congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them ^{▼▼ Lit was saying}claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but ^bxall things were common property to them. 33 And ^bywith great power the apostles were giving ^bztestimony 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 ^cawould sell them and bring the ^{▼▼ Lit the prices of the things being sold}proceeds of the sales 35 and ^cclay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be ^cddistributed to each as any had need.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite of ^ceCyprian birth, who was also called ^cfBarnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^{▼▼ Or Exhortation or Consolation
,} ^chEncouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and ^cilaid it at the apostles’ feet.