Act 4 | ESV | STEP | And as they were speaking to the people , the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them ,

1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^athe captain of the temple and ^bthe Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^cin Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and ^dput them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and ^ethe number of the men came to about five thousand.

5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with ^fAnnas the high priest and ^gCaiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, ^h“By what power or ⁱby what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, ^jfilled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today ^kconcerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that ^lby the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, ^mwhom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 ⁿThis Jesus ^{▼▼Greek This one} is the stone that was ^prejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. ^{▼▼Greek the head of the corner} 12 And there is ^rsalvation ^sin no one else, for ^tthere is no other ^uname under heaven given among men ^{▼▼The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women} by which we must be saved.”

13 ^wNow when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed ^xstanding beside them, ^ythey had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, ^z“What shall we do with these men? For that ^aaa notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them ^abto speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, ^ac“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for ^adwe cannot but speak of what ^aewe have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, ^afbecause of the people, for all were praising God ^agfor what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices ^ahtogether to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, ^aiwho made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, ^{▼▼Or child; also verses 27, 30} said by the Holy Spirit,

^ak“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and ^althe rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his ^amAnointed’ ^{▼▼Or Christ}—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your ^aoholy servant Jesus, ^apwhom you anointed, both ^aqHerod and ^arPontius Pilate, along ^aswith the Gentiles and ^atthe peoples of Israel, 28 ^auto do whatever your hand and ^avyour plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, ^awlook upon their threats and grant to your servants ^{▼▼Greek bondservants} to continue to speak your word with all ^ayboldness, 30 while ^azyou stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed ^bathrough the name of your ^bbholy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, ^bcthe place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and ^bdthey were all filled with the Holy Spirit and ^becontinued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of ^bfone heart and ^bgsoul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but ^bhthey had everything in common. 33 And with great ^bipower the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and ^bjgreat grace was upon them all. 34 ^bkThere was not a needy person among them, for ^blas many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and ^bmlaid it at the apostles’ feet, and ^bnit was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means ^boson of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and ^bplaid it at the apostles’ feet.