Acts 4–7

1As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,

2being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening.

4But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

5In the morning, their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem.

6Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest.

7When they had stood Peter and John in the middle of them, they inquired, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people and elders of Israel,

9if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,

10may 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.

11He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’

12There 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!”

13Now 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.

14Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

16saying, “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.

17But 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.”

18They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19But 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,

20for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”

21When 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.

22For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

23Being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24When 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;

25who by the mouth of your servant David, said, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?

26The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers plot together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.’

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

28to do whatever your hand and your counsel foreordained to happen.

29Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,

30while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”

31When 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.

32The 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.

33With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all.

34For 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,

35and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need.

36Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,

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

1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”

5Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.

6The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

7About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

8Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

9But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

10She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.

11Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

12By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

13None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honored them.

14More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

15They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

16The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.

17But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy

18and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody.

19But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,

20“Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

21When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,

23“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

24Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.

25One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”

26Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

27When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,

28saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.

31God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

32We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.

34But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.

35He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.

36For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing.

37After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

38Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.

39But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”

40They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

42Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.

1Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.

2The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.

3Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”

5These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,

6whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

8Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

9But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.

10They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council,

13and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.

14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”

15All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.

1The high priest said, “Are these things so?”

2He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

3and said to him, ‘Get out of your land and away from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’

4Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land where you are now living.

5He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him, when he still had no child.

6God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.

7‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serve me in this place.’

8He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

9“The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him

10and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food.

12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time.

13On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was revealed to Pharaoh.

14Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his relatives, seventy-five souls.

15Jacob went down into Egypt and he died, himself and our fathers;

16and they were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem.

17“But as the time of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

18until there arose a different king who didn’t know Joseph.

19The same took advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to abandon their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive.

20At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome to God. He was nourished three months in his father’s house.

21When he was abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and reared him as her own son.

22Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works.

23But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.

24Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian.

25He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn’t understand.

26“The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’

27But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?

28Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’

29Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

30“When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.

31When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, the voice of the Lord came to him,

32‘I am the God of your fathers: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled and dared not look.

33The Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground.

34I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.’

35“This Moses whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

36This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.

37This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’

38This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us,

39to whom our fathers wouldn’t be obedient, but rejected him and turned back in their hearts to Egypt,

40saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’

41They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.

42But God turned away and gave them up to serve the army of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

43You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship, so I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’

44“Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen;

45which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations whom God drove out before the face of our fathers to the days of David,

46who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.

47But Solomon built him a house.

48However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,

49‘heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord. ‘Or what is the place of my rest?

50Didn’t my hand make all these things?’

51“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do.

52Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.

53You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!”

54Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

55But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

57But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears, then rushed at him with one accord.

58They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

60He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.