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Peter and John Arrested

¹ As they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^(C1)the captain of the temple guard and ^(C2)the Sadducees ^(C3)came up to them,² being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^(F1)(C1)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.³ And they laid hands on them and ^(C1)put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.⁴ But many of those who had heard the ^(F1)message believed; and ^(C1)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day, their ^(C1)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;⁶ and ^(C1)Annas the high priest was there, and ^(C2)Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.⁷ When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?"⁸ Then Peter, ^(F1)(C1)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "^(F2)(C2)Rulers and elders of the people,⁹ if we are ^(F1)on trial today for ^(C1)a benefit done to a sick man, ^(F2)as to how this man has been made well,¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that ^(F1)(C1)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom ^(C2)God raised from the dead--^(F1)by ^(F2)this name this man stands here before you in good health.¹¹ "^(F1)(C1)He is the ^(C2)STONE WHICH WAS ^(C3)REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.¹² "And there is salvation in ^(C1)no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

Threat and Release

¹³ Now as they observed the ^(C1)confidence of ^(C2)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and ^(C3)began to recognize them ^(F1)as having been with Jesus.¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.¹⁵ But when they had ordered them to leave the ^(F1)(C1)Council, they began to confer with one another,¹⁶ saying, "^(C1)What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a ^(C2)noteworthy ^(F1)miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.¹⁷ "But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man ^(C1)in this name."¹⁸ And when they had summoned them, they ^(C1)commanded them not to speak or teach at all ^(F1)in the name of Jesus.¹⁹ But ^(C1)Peter and John answered and said to them, "^(C2)Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;²⁰ for ^(C1)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."²¹ When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) ^(C1)on account of the people, because they were all ^(C2)glorifying God for what had happened;²² for the man was more than forty years old on whom this ^(F1)miracle of healing had been performed.

²³ When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.²⁴ And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O ^(F1)Lord, it is You who ^(C1)MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,²⁵ who ^(C1)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

'^(C2)WHY DID THE ^(F1)GENTILES RAGE,
AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?

²⁶ '^(C1)THE KINGS OF THE EARTH ^(F1)TOOK THEIR STAND,
AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER
AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ^(F2)(C2)CHRIST.'

Sharing among Believers

³² And the ^(F1)congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them ^(F2)claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but ^(C1)all things were common property to them.³³ And ^(C1)with great power the apostles were giving ^(C2)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.³⁴ For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses ^(C1)would sell them and bring the ^(F1)proceeds of the sales³⁵ and ^(C1)lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be ^(C2)distributed to each as any had need.

³⁶ Now Joseph, a Levite of ^(C1)Cyprian birth, who was also called ^(C2)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^(F1)(C3)Encouragement),³⁷ and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and ^(C1)laid it at the apostles' feet.