Acts 4

There Is No Other Name Given Among Men

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Peter and John Arrested

4:1While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

4:2greatly troubled because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

4:3They laid hands on them and placed them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

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

Before the Rulers and Elders

4:5The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes gathered in Jerusalem,

4:6together with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who belonged to the high-priestly family.

4:7They made them stand in their midst and asked, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

No Other Name

4:8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,

4:9if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a disabled man, and by what means he has been made well,

4:10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—in Him this man stands before you in good health.

4:11He is the stone despised by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

4:12Salvation is in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among human beings by which we must be saved.”

Forbidden to Speak in His Name

4:13When they observed Peter’s and John’s boldness and realized that they were unlettered, ordinary men, they were amazed. They also recognized that they had been with Jesus.

4:14Seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it.

4:15They ordered them to leave the council and conferred with one another,

4:16saying, “What should we do with these men? That a notable sign has taken place through them is evident to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

4:17But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us threaten them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

4:18They called them in and ordered them neither to speak nor to teach at all in the name of Jesus.

4:19Peter and John answered them, “Judge whether it is right before God to listen to you rather than to God;

4:20for we cannot refrain from speaking of what we have seen and heard.”

4:21After further threats, they released them, finding no way to punish them because of the people, since everyone was glorifying God for what had happened.

4:22For the man in whom this sign of healing had occurred was more than forty years old.

The Prayer for Boldness

4:23After their release, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

4:24On hearing it, they lifted their voice together to God and said, “Master, You are the One who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them,

4:25who through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David, Your servant, said, ‘Why did nations rage and peoples devise empty things?

4:26The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’

4:27For truly, in this city, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed,

4:28to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose had determined beforehand should happen.

4:29And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant Your servants to speak Your word with all boldness,

4:30while You stretch out Your hand for healing, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

4:31When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God’s word with boldness.

All Things in Common

4:32The multitude of those who believed was of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything he possessed was his own, but they held everything in common.

4:33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

4:34For there was not a needy person among them: all who owned lands or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of what was sold,

4:35laying them at the apostles’ feet; distribution was made to each according as anyone had need.

Barnabas Sells a Field

4:36Joseph, whom the apostles called Barnabas—which means Son of Encouragement—a Levite and a native of Cyprus,

4:37sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.