Study Desk

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!^(p)

No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

"‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.^(q) Your sons and daughters will prophesy,^(r) your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.^(s)

I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,^(t) blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood^(u) before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord^(v) will be saved.'^[c](w)

"Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth^(x) was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,^(y) which God did among you through him,^(z) as you yourselves know.

This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge;^(aa) and you, with the help of wicked men,^[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross.^(ab)

But God raised him from the dead,^(ac) freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.^(ad)

David said about him: "‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,

because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.^(ae)

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'^[e](af)

"Fellow Israelites,^(ag) I can tell you confidently that the patriarch^(ah) David died and was buried,^(ai) and his tomb is here^(aj) to this day.

But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.^(ak)

Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.^(al)

God has raised this Jesus to life,^(am) and we are all witnesses^(an) of it.

Exalted^(ao) to the right hand of God,^(ap) he has received from the Father^(aq) the promised Holy Spirit^(ar) and has poured out^(as) what you now see and hear.

For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "‘The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."'^[f](at)

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord^(au) and Messiah."^(av)

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"^(aw)

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized,^(ax) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.^(ay) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^(az)

The promise is for you and your children^(ba) and for all who are far off^(bb)—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."^(bc)

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number^(bd) that day.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching^(be) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread^(bf) and to prayer.^(bg)

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.^(bh)

All the believers were together and had everything in common.^(bi)

They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.^(bj)

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.^(bk) They broke bread^(bl) in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.^(bm) And the Lord added to their number^(bn) daily those who were being saved.

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

One day Peter and John^(a) were going up to the temple^(b) at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.^(c)

Now a man who was lame from birth^(d) was being carried to the temple gate^(e) called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg^(f) from those going into the temple courts.

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.

Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!"

So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,^(g) walk."

Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.

He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping,^(h) and praising God.

When all the people⁽ⁱ⁾ saw him walking and praising God,

they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful,^(j) and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

While the man held on to Peter and John,^(k) all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.^(l)

When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,^(m) the God of our fathers,⁽ⁿ⁾ has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over^(o) to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate,^(p) though he had decided to let him go.^(q)

You disowned the Holy^(r) and Righteous One^(s) and asked that a murderer be released to you.^(t)

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.^(u) We are witnesses^(v) of this.

By faith in the name of Jesus,^(w) this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

"Now, fellow Israelites,^(x) I know that you acted in ignorance,^(y) as did your leaders.^(z)

But this is how God fulfilled^(aa) what he had foretold^(ab) through all the prophets,^(ac) saying that his Messiah would suffer.^(ad)

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,^(ae) that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

and that he may send the Messiah,^(af) who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

Heaven must receive him^(ag) until the time comes for God to restore everything,^(ah) as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.^(ai)

For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.^(aj)

Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.'^[a](ak)

"Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets^(al) who have spoken have foretold these days.

And you are heirs^(am) of the prophets and of the covenant^(an) God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'^[b](ao)

When God raised up^(ap) his servant, he sent him first^(aq) to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

The priests and the captain of the temple guard^(a) and the Sadducees^(b) came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.

They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.^(c)

They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail^(d) until the next day.

But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew^(e) to about five thousand.

The next day the rulers,^(f) the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.

Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas,^(g) John, Alexander and others of the high priest's family.

They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,^(h) said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!⁽ⁱ⁾

If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame^(j) and are being asked how he was healed,

then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,^(k) whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,^(l) that this man stands before you healed.

Jesus is "‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.'^[a](m)

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."⁽ⁿ⁾

When they saw the courage of Peter and John^(o) and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,^(p) they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.^(q)

But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.

So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin^(r) and then conferred together.

"What are we going to do with these men?"^(s) they asked. "Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,^(t) and we cannot deny it.

But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.^(u)

But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him?^(v) You be the judges!

As for us, we cannot help speaking^(w) about what we have seen and heard."^(x)

After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people^(y) were praising God^(z) for what had happened.

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

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.^(aa) "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.^(ab)

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:^(ac) "‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.^[b]'^[c](ad)

Indeed Herod^(ae) and Pontius Pilate^(af) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,^(ag) whom you anointed.

They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.^(ah)

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.^(ai)

Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders^(aj) through the name of your holy servant Jesus."^(ak)

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.^(al) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit^(am) and spoke the word of God^(an) boldly.^(ao)

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.^(ap)

With great power the apostles continued to testify^(aq) to the resurrection^(ar) of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace^(as) was so powerfully at work in them all

that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,^(at) brought the money from the sales

and put it at the apostles' feet,^(au) and it was distributed to anyone who had need.^(av)

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas^(aw) (which means "son of encouragement"),

sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.^(ax)