Peter and John before the Sanhedrin

1While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadduces came upon them, 2being displeas'd that they taught the people, and maintain'd the resurrection from the dead in the person of Jesus. 3and they laid hands on them, and put them in prison, till the next day: for it was now evening. 4however, many who heard Peter's discourse, believed, to the number of about five thousand people.

5On the morrow, the rulers, senators, and doctors of the law, then at Jerusalem, assembled, 6with Annas the high priest, Caiphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the pontifical family. 7and having caused Peter and John to appear, they asked, by what influence, or by what authority have you done this? 8then Peter filled with the holy spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people, and senators of Israel, 9since we are this day to be examined about the cure of a cripple, and by what means he was recovered; be it known to you all, 10and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you entirely recover'd. 11this is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but is become the chief of the angle. 12salvation is not to be had by any other: for there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we can be saved.

The Name Forbidden

13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were illiterate, and of the lower rank of men, they were surpriz'd; but tho' they knew that they had been Jesus's disciples, 14yet seeing the man who was cured standing with them, they could not tell what to reply. 15having therefore order'd them to withdraw from the council, they conferred among themselves, 16saying, what shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17but to prevent its spreading any further among the people, let us charge them with threats not to speak for the future to any man in that name. 18so they called them in, and commanded them not to speak or teach upon any account, in the name of Jesus. 19but Peter and John made answer, do you yourselves judge, whether it be right in the sight of God, to obey you rather than God. 20for we cannot avoid publishing what we have seen and heard. 21so when they had further threatned them, they let them go, not finding it practicable to punish them, because of the people, who all glorified God for that which was done. 22for the man who was so miraculously cured, was above forty years old.

The Believers’ Prayer

23As soon as they were discharg'd, they went to their brethren, and reported all that the chief priests and senators had said to them: 24at the relation of which they unanimously lift up their voice to God, and said, Lord, thou art the God who hast made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is therein:

25who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, "why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ."

27for it was truly against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, that Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, united themselves in this city, 28to effect what thy power and thy wisdom pre-determined to be done. 29and now, Lord, behold their threatnings: and enable thy servants to deliver thy word with freedom, 30by displaying thine hand in miraculous cures, and prodigies, which by the name of thy holy child Jesus shall be done. 31When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled, trembled; they were all filled with the holy spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Sharing among Believers
(Acts 2:42–47)

32Now the whole body of believers were but one heart, and one soul: no one look'd upon what he possessed, as his own, but every thing was held in common. 33Great was the power by which the apostles attested the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and they were all greatly favoured by the people. 34for there was no poor among them, because as many as bad lands or houses, sold them, and brought the value, 35which they laid down at the apostles feet: and they distributed it to every man as his occasions required.

36among the rest one Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (that is to say, the son of consolation) a Levite, and a native of Cyprus, 37sold an estate he had, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles feet.