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Acts 4

1While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3They laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many who heard the word believed, and the number of men came to about five thousand.

5The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes gathered in Jerusalem, 6including Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who belonged to the high-priestly family. 7They stood them in their midst and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are being examined today about a good deed done for a sick man, by what means this man has been saved, 10let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus the Messiah of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man stands before you healthy. 11This is ‘the stone treated with contempt by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12And salvation is in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”

13Seeing the boldness of Peter and John and realizing that they were uneducated, ordinary men, they marveled and recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14Seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it. 15After ordering them to go outside the council, they conferred with one another, 16saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a notable sign has taken place through them, and we cannot deny it. 17But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us threaten them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18They called them in and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “Judge whether it is right before God to listen to you rather than to God, 20for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for everyone was glorifying God for what had happened. 22For the man on whom this sign of healing had taken place was more than forty years old.

23Once released, they went to their own people and reported what the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24Hearing it, they raised their voice with one accord to God and said, “Master, you made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them. 25Through the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David your servant, you said, ‘Why did the nations rage and the peoples plot empty things? 26The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ 27For in truth, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the nations and the peoples of Israel, gathered against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28to do whatever your hand and purpose had determined beforehand to happen. 29And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant your slaves to speak your word with all boldness, 30as you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders take place through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.

32The multitude of those who believed had one heart and soul, and not one claimed any of his possessions as his own, but they held everything in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34For there was no needy person among them: all who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, 35and laid them at the apostles' feet, and distribution was made to each as anyone had need. 36Joseph, whom the apostles named Barnabas—which means Son of Encouragement—a Levite, a Cypriot by birth, 37owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Translation notes 5

4:1–6 — People and authorities. The captain is a temple official. “Men” in verse 4 follows the specifically male noun, while the wider community includes women. Annas is called high priest as in Luke's historical setting; the wording is not rewritten to remove Caiaphas or explain the family offices.

4:9–12 — Saved and stone. “Saved” first concerns the man's healing and then broadens into the proclamation of salvation. The shared word is retained as in Luke's healing narratives. The cornerstone quotation recalls Psalm 118:22 and Luke 20:17; Acts uses a different verb for the builders' rejection, here “treated with contempt.”

4:13 — Education. The description concerns a lack of recognized education and ordinary status. It does not establish that Peter and John could not read or write.

4:24–30 — Master, servant, slaves. “Master” and “slaves” preserve ownership language; “servant” for David and Jesus translates a different term. Verse 25 has a difficult Greek construction, rearranged for intelligible English without dropping the Holy Spirit or David. Herod and Pilate recall Luke 23, but the prayer expresses its own interpretation of those events.

4:32–37 — Sharing and name. “Great grace” can also suggest great favor; whether divine grace or public favor is especially prominent is not explicit. The giving is described without adding a rule of compulsory sale. Barnabas's name is explained as “Son of Encouragement”; “Son of Consolation” is another possible rendering.