Acts 4
Peter and John before
the Council |
1 |
And as they spake unto the people, the
priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon
them,
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2 |
being grieved that they taught the
people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the
dead.
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3 |
And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now
eventide.
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4 |
Howbeit many of them which heard the word
believed; and the number of the men was about five
thousand.
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5 |
And it came to pass on the morrow, that
their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
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6 |
and Annas the high priest, and Cai'aphas,
and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the
high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
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7 |
And when they had set them in the midst,
they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done
this?
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8 |
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost,
said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of
Israel,
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9 |
if we this day be examined of the good
deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made
whole;
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10 |
be it known unto you all, and to all the
people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom
ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth
this man stand here before you whole.
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11 |
This is the stone which was set at nought
of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Ps.
118.22
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12 |
Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby
we must be saved.
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13 |
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter
and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men,
they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been
with Jesus.
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14 |
And beholding the man which was healed
standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
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15 |
But when they had commanded them to go
aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
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16 |
saying, What shall we do to these men?
for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
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17 |
But that it spread no further among the
people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to
no man in this name.
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18 |
And they called them, and commanded them
not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
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19 |
But Peter and John answered and said unto
them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you
more than unto God, judge ye.
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20 |
For we cannot but speak the things which
we have seen and heard.
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21 |
So when they had further threatened them,
they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them,
because of the people: for all men glorified God for that
which was done.
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22 |
For the man was above forty years old, on
whom this miracle of healing was showed.
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The Believers Pray for
Boldness |
23 |
And being let go, they went to their
own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had
said unto them.
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24 |
And when they heard that, they lifted up
their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in
them is; Ex. 20.11 · Ps. 146.6
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25 |
who by the mouth of thy servant David
hast said,
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Why did the heathen rage, |
and the people imagine vain
things? |
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26 |
The kings of the earth stood up,
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and the rulers were gathered together |
against the Lord, and against his Christ. Ps.
2.1, 2 |
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27 |
For of a truth against thy holy child
Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, Lk. 23.7-11 and Pontius Pilate, Mt. 27.1, 2 · Mk. 15.1 · Lk. 23.1 · Joh. 18.28, 29 with
the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered
together,
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28 |
for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy
counsel determined before to be done.
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29 |
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings:
and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak
thy word,
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30 |
by stretching forth thine hand to heal;
and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child
Jesus.
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31 |
And when they had prayed, the place was
shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with
boldness.
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All Things in
Common |
32 |
And the multitude of them that believed
were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they
had all things common. Acts 2.44, 45
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33 |
And with great power gave the apostles
witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was
upon them all.
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34 |
Neither was there any among them that
lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them,
and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
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35 |
and laid them down at the
apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according
as he had need. Mt. 19.21 · Mk. 10.21 · Lk. 12.33 ; 18.22
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36 |
And Joses, who by the apostles was
surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of
consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of
Cyprus,
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37 |
having land, sold it, and brought
the money, and laid it at the apostles'
feet.
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