Acts, 4

1. While they were still talking to the people the priests came up to them, accompanied by the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees.

1. And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sad'ducees came upon them,

2. They were extremely annoyed at their teaching the people the resurrection from the dead by proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus.

2. annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3. They arrested them, and, as it was already late, they kept them in prison till the next day.

3. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the morrow, for it was already evening.

4. But many of those who had listened to their message became believers; the total number of men had now risen to something like five thousand.

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

5. It happened that the next day the rulers, elders and scribes held a meeting in Jerusalem

5. On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem,

6. with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, Jonathan, Alexander and all the members of the high-priestly families.

6. with Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.

7. They made the prisoners stand in the middle and began to interrogate them, 'By what power, and by whose name have you men done this?'

7. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"

8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, addressed them, 'Rulers of the people, and elders!

8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,

9. If you are questioning us today about an act of kindness to a cripple and asking us how he was healed,

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

10. you must know, all of you, and the whole people of Israel, that it is by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, and God raised from the dead, by this name and by no other that this man stands before you cured.

10. be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.

11. This is the stone which you, the builders, rejected but which has become the cornerstone. Only in him is there salvation;

11. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner.

12. for of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.'

12. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

13. They were astonished at the fearlessness shown by Peter and John, considering that they were uneducated laymen; and they recognised them as associates of Jesus;

13. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

14. but when they saw the man who had been cured standing by their side, they could find no answer.

14. But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

15. So they ordered them to stand outside while the Sanhedrin had a private discussion.

15. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another,

16. 'What are we going to do with these men?' they asked. 'It is obvious to everybody in Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been worked through them, and we cannot deny it.

16. saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

17. But to stop the whole thing spreading any further among the people, let us threaten them against ever speaking to anyone in this name again.'

17. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name."

18. So they called them in and gave them a warning on no account to make statements or to teach in the name of Jesus.

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 retorted, 'You must judge whether in God's eyes it is right to listen to you and not to God.

19. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;

20. We cannot stop proclaiming what we have seen and heard.'

20. for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

21. The court repeated the threats and then released them; they could not think of any way to punish them, since all the people were giving glory to God for what had happened.

21. And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened.

22. The man who had been miraculously cured was over forty years old.

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

23. As soon as they were released they went to the community and told them everything the chief priests and elders had said to them.

23. When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24. When they heard it they lifted up their voice to God with one heart. 'Master,' they prayed, 'it is you who made sky and earth and sea, and everything in them;

24. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

25. it is you who said through the Holy Spirit and speaking through our ancestor David, your servant: Why this uproar among the nations, this impotent muttering of the peoples?

25. who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say by the Holy Spirit, `Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?

26. Kings on earth take up position, princes plot together against the Lord and his Anointed.

26. The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed' --

27. 'This is what has come true: in this very city Herod and Pontius Pilate plotted together with the gentile nations and the peoples of Israel, against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,

27. for truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

28. to bring about the very thing that you in your strength and your wisdom had predetermined should happen.

28. to do whatever thy hand and thy plan had predestined to take place.

29. And now, Lord, take note of their threats and help your servants to proclaim your message with all fearlessness,

29. And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,

30. by stretching out your hand to heal and to work miracles and marvels through the name of your holy servant Jesus.'

30. while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus."

31. As they prayed, the house where they were assembled rocked. From this time they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God fearlessly.

31. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.

32. The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, as everything they owned was held in common.

32. Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.

33. The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all accorded great respect.

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

34. None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from the sale of them,

34. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold

35. to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any who might be in need.

35. and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need.

36. There was a Levite of Cypriot origin called Joseph whom the apostles surnamed Barnabas (which means 'son of encouragement').

36. Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

37. He owned a piece of land and he sold it and brought the money and presented it to the apostles.

37. sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.