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Peter and John Before the Council

¹ And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^(a)the captain of the temple and ^(b)the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^(c)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and ^(d)put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and ^(e)the 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 ^(f)Annas the high priest and ^(g)Caiaphas 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 ⁽ⁱ⁾by what name did you do this?" ⁸ Then Peter, ^(j)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today ^(k)concerning 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 ^(l)by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, ^(m)whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. ^11 (n)This Jesus^[a] is the stone that was ^(o)rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.^{[b] 12} And there is ^(p)salvation ^(q)in no one else, for ^(r)there is no other ^(s)name under heaven given among men^[c] by which we must be saved."

^13 (t)Now 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 ^(u)standing beside them, ^(v)they had nothing to say in opposition. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, ¹⁶ saying, ^(w)"What shall we do with these men? For that ^(x)a 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 ^(y)to 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, ^(z)"Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, ²⁰ for ^(aa)we cannot but speak of what ^(ab)we have seen and heard." ²¹ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, ^(ac)because of the people, for all were praising God ^(ad)for 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 ^(ae)together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, ^(af)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵ who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,^[d] said by the Holy Spirit,

²⁷ for truly in this city there were gathered together against your ^(aj)holy servant Jesus, ^(ak)whom you anointed, both ^(al)Herod and ^(am)Pontius Pilate, along ^(an)with the Gentiles and ^(ao)the peoples of Israel, ^28 (ap)to do whatever your hand and ^(aq)your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, Lord, ^(ar)look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all ^(as)boldness, ³⁰ while ^(at)you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed ^(au)through the name of your ^(av)holy servant Jesus." ³¹ And when they had prayed, ^(aw)the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and ^(ax)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and ^(ay)continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

³² Now the full number of those who believed were of ^(az)one heart and ^(ba)soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but ^(bb)they had everything in common. ³³ And with great ^(bc)power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and ^(bd)great grace was upon them all. ^34 (be)There was not a needy person among them, for ^(bf)as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold ³⁵ and ^(bg)laid it at the apostles' feet, and ^(bh)it was distributed to each as any had need. ³⁶ Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means ^(bi)son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and ^(bj)laid it at the apostles' feet.