Act 4-6 | 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.

Acts 5

Ananias and Sapphira

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge ^bqhe kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and ^brlaid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^bsSatan filled your heart to lie ^btto the Holy Spirit and ^buto keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but ^bvto God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he ^bwfell down and breathed his last. And ^bxgreat fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and ^bywrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you ^{▼▼The Greek for you is plural here} sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together ^cato test ^cbthe Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And ^ccgreat fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Many Signs and Wonders Done

12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people ^cdby the hands of the apostles. And they were all ^cetogether in ^cfSolomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but ^cgthe people held them in high esteem. 14 And ^chmore than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 ^ciso that they even ^cjcarried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by ^ckat least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, ^clbringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of ^cmthe Sadducees), and filled with ^cnjealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and ^coput them in the public prison. 19 But during the night ^cpan angel of the Lord ^cqopened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all ^crthe words of ^csthis ^ctLife.” 21 And when they heard this, ^cuthey entered the temple ^cvat daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when ^cwthe captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison ^cxare standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then ^cythe captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for ^czthey were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, ^da“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you ^dbintend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, ^dc“We must obey God rather than men. 30 ^ddThe God of our fathers ^deraised Jesus, ^dfwhom you killed by hanging him on ^dga tree. 31 God exalted ^dhhim at his right hand as ^diLeader and ^djSavior, ^dkto give ^dlrepentance to Israel and ^dmforgiveness of sins. 32 And ^dnwe are witnesses to these things, and ^doso is the Holy Spirit, ^dpwhom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, they ^dqwere enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named ^drGamaliel, ^dsa teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For ^dtbefore these days Theudas rose up, ^duclaiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of ^dvthe census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for ^dwif this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but ^dxif it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You ^dymight even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and ^dzwhen they had called in the apostles, ^eathey beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, ^ebrejoicing that they were counted worthy ^ecto suffer dishonor for ^edthe name. 42 And every day, ^eein the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and ^efpreaching ^egthat the Christ is Jesus.

Acts 6

Seven Chosen to Serve

1 Now in these days ^ehwhen the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists ^{▼▼That is, Greek-speaking Jews} arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in ^ejthe daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 ^ekTherefore, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} pick out from among you seven men ^emof good repute, ^enfull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But ^eowe will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, ^epa man full of faith and ^eqof the Holy Spirit, and ^erPhilip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, ^esa proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and ^etthey prayed and ^eulaid their hands on them.

7 And ^evthe word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests ^ewbecame obedient to ^exthe faith.

Stephen Is Seized

8 And Stephen, full of grace and ^eypower, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But ^ezthey could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then ^fathey secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they ^fbset up false ^fcwitnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against ^fdthis holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth ^fewill destroy this place and will ^ffchange ^fgthe customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face ^fhwas like the face of an angel.