The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 4 -

And as they spake vnto the people, the Priestes and the Captaine of the Temple, and the Sadduces came vpon them,

Taking it grieuously that they taught the people, and preached in Iesus Name the resurrection from the dead.

And they layde handes on them, and put them in holde, vntill the next day: for it was now euentide.

Howbeit, many of them which heard the word, beleeued, and the number of the men was about fiue thousand.

And it came to passe on the morow, that their rulers, and Elders, and Scribes, were gathered together at Hierusalem,

And Annas the chiefe Priest, and Caiaphas, and Iohn, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the hie Priestes.

And whe they had set them before them, they asked, By what power, or in what Name haue ye done this?

Then Peter ful of the holy Ghost, said vnto them, Ye rulers of the people, and Elders of Israel,

For as much as we this day are examined of the good deede done to the impotent man, to wit, by what meanes he is made whole,

Be it knowen vnto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye haue crucified, whome God raised againe from the dead, euen by him doth this man stand here before you, whole.

This is the stone cast aside of you builders which is become the head of the corner.

Neither is there saluation in any other: for among men there is giuen none other Name vnder heauen, whereby we must be saued.

The Name Forbidden

Now when they sawe the boldnes of Peter and Iohn, and vnderstoode that they were vnlearned men and without knowledge, they marueiled, and knew them, that they had bin with Iesus:

And beholding also the man which was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it.

Then they commanded them to goe aside out of the Council, and conferred among themselues,

Saying, What shall we doe to these men? for surely a manifest signe is done by them, and it is openly knowen to all them that dwell in Hierusalem: and we cannot denie it.

But that it be noysed no farther among the people, let vs threaten and charge them, that they speake hencefoorth to no man in this Name.

So they called them, and commanded them, that in no wise they should speake or teach in the Name of Iesus.

But Peter and Iohn answered vnto them, and said, Whether it be right in the sight of God, to obey you rather then God, iudge ye.

For we cannot but speake the things which we haue seene and heard.

So they threatened them, and let them goe, and found nothing how to punish them, because of the people: for all men praised God for that which was done.

For the man was aboue fourtie yeeres olde, on whome this miracle of healing was shewed.

The Believers’ Prayer

(Psalm 2:1–12)

Then assoone as they were let goe, they came to their fellowes, and shewed all that the hie Priestes and Elders had said vnto them.

And when they heard it, they lift vp their voyces to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou art the God which hast made the heaue, and the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

Which by the mouth of thy seruant Dauid hast saide, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the people imagine vaine things?

The Kings of the earth assembled, and the rulers came together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

For doutlesse, against thine holy Sonne Iesus, whome thou haddest anoynted, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel gathered themselues together,

To doe whatsoeuer thine hand, and thy counsell had determined before to be done.

And nowe, O Lord, beholde their threatnings, and graunt vnto thy seruants with all boldnesse to speake thy word,

So that thou stretch forth thine hand, that healing, and signes, and wonders may be done by the Name of thine holy Sonne Iesus.

And when as they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God boldely.

Sharing among Believers

(Acts 2:42–47)

And the multitude of them that beleeued, were of one heart, and of one soule: neither any of them said, that any thing of that which he possessed, was his owne, but they had all thinges common.

And with great power gaue the Apostles witnes of the resurrection of the Lord Iesus: and great grace was vpon them all.

Neither was there any among them, that lacked: for as many as were possessours of landes or houses, solde them, and brought the price of the things that were solde,

And layde it downe at the Apostles feete, and it was distributed vnto euery man, according as he had neede.

Also Ioses which was called of the Apostles, Barnabas (that is by interpretation the sonne of consolation) being a Leuite, and of the countrey of Cyprus,

Where as he had land, solde it, and brought the money, and laid it downe at the Apostles feete.

As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,

being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening.

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

In the morning, their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem.

Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest.

When they had stood Peter and John in the middle of them, they inquired, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people and elders of Israel,

if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,

may it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands here before you whole in him.

He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’(a)

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”

The Name Forbidden

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it.

But so that this spreads no further among the people, let’s threaten them, that from now on they don’t speak to anyone in this name.”

They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

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

for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”

When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done.

For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers’ Prayer

(Psalm 2:1–12)

Being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;

who by the mouth of your servant David, said, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?

The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers plot together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.’(b)

(c)

“For truly,(d) both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,

to do whatever your hand and your counsel foreordained to happen.

Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,

while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”

When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Sharing among Believers

(Acts 2:42–47)

The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all.

For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need.

Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,

having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Footnotes

(a)4:11 ℘ Psalms 118:22

(b)4:26 Christ (Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew) both mean Anointed One.

(d)4:27 nu adds “in this city,”