Peter and John are Tried before the Jewish Council

1While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the Temple guards, and the Sadducees came to them. 2They were greatly disturbed that Peter and Johna were teaching the people and announcing that Jesus had been resurrectedb from the dead. 3So they arrested them and placed them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard their message believed, and the men grew to number about 5,000.

5The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes met in Jerusalem 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,c Alexander, and the rest of the high priest’s family. 7They made Peter and Johnd stand in front of them and began asking, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

8Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, told them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being questioned today for a good deed done for someone who was sick or to learn how this man was healed, 10you and all the people of Israel must understand that this man stands healthy before you because of the name of Jesus from Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead. 11He is

‘the stone that was rejected by you builders,

which has become the cornerstone.’e

12There is no salvation by anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”

13Now when the Jewish leadersf saw the boldness of Peter and John and found out that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and realized that they had been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could not say anything against them. 15So they ordered them to leave the Councilg and began to discuss the matter among themselves. 16They said, “What should we do with these men? For it’s obvious to everybody living in Jerusalem that an unmistakable sign has been done by them, and we cannot deny it. 17But to keep it from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them never again to speak to anyone in this name.”

18So they called Peter and Johnh back in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “You must decide whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, 20for we cannot stop talking about what we’ve seen and heard.”

21So they threatened Peter and Johni even more and then let them go. They couldn’t find any way to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened, 22since the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than 40 years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23After they were released, Peter and Johnj went to their fellow believersk and told them everything the high priests and the elders had said. 24When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, “Master, you made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 25You said by the Holy Spirit through the voice of our ancestor, your servant David,

‘Why do the unbelieversl rage,

and the people devise useless plots?

26The kings of the earth take their stand,

and rulers meet together against the Lordm

and against his Messiah.’n

27For in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate actually met together with unbelieverso and the people of Israel to oppose your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28to carry out everything that your hand and will had predetermined to take place. 29Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow your servants to speak your word boldly 30as you stretch out your hand to heal and to perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31When they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak messages fromp God boldly.

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32Now all the believers were one in heart and soul, and nobody called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything they owned. 33With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was on them all, 34since none of them needed anything, because everyone who had land or houses would sell them and bring the money received for the things sold 35and lay it at the apostles’ feet. Then it was distributed to anyone who needed it. 36One man,q Joseph, a descendant of Levi and a native of Cyprus, who was named Barnabas by the apostles (the namer means “a son of encouragement”), 37sold a field that belonged to him, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.