Acts Chapter 4 of 28 about 4 min read

Acts 4

What happens in this chapter

Chapter summary coming soon.

Verse 1. While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

Verse 2. greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

Verse 3. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.

Verse 4. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

Verse 5. The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,

Verse 6. along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family.

Verse 7. They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Verse 8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!

Verse 9. If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,

Verse 10. then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

Verse 11. This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

Verse 12. Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Verse 13. When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Verse 14. And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response.

Verse 15. So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

Verse 16. “What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.

Verse 17. But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”

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

Verse 19. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.

Verse 20. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Verse 21. After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

Verse 22. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Verse 23. On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

Verse 24. When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

Verse 25. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

Verse 26. The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’

Verse 27. In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.

Verse 28. They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.

Verse 29. And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,

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

Verse 31. After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Verse 32. The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.

Verse 33. With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.

Verse 34. There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales,

Verse 35. and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.

Verse 36. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),

Verse 37. sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.