And while Peter and John were talking to the people, the priests and ^athe captain who was in charge of the temple area and of the temple guard and ^bthe Sadducees ^ccame up to them, 2 being extremely disturbed and thoroughly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^ain the case of Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 So they arrested them and ^aput them in jail until the next day, because it was evening. 4 But many of those who heard the message of salvation believed in Jesus and accepted Him as the Christ. And ^athe number of the men came to be about 5,000.

5 On the next day, their ^amagistrates and elders and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and ^1aAnnas the high priest was there, and ^2bCaiaphas and ³John and Alexander, and all others who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had put the men in ¹front of them, they repeatedly asked, “By what sort of power, or in what name that is, by what kind of authority, did you do this healing?” 8 Then Peter, ^afilled with the power of the Holy Spirit, said to them, “^bRulers and elders of the people members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Court, 9 if we are being put on trial today to interrogate us for ^aa good deed done to benefit a disabled man, as to how this man has been restored to health, 10 let it be known and clearly understood by all of you, and by all the people of Israel, that ^ain the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you demanded be crucified by the Romans and, whom ^bGod raised from the dead—in this name that is, by the authority and power of Jesus this man stands here before you in good health. 11 ^aThis Jesus is the ^bSTONE WHICH WAS ^cDESPISED and REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE ¹CHIEF CORNERSTONE. Ps 118:22 12 And there is salvation in ^ano one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation.”

13 Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the ^aconfidence and boldness of ^bPeter and John, and grasped the fact that they were ¹uneducated and untrained ordinary men, they were astounded, and ^cbegan to recognize that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But after ordering them to step out of the ^aCouncil chamber, they began to confer among themselves, 16 saying, “^aWhat are we to do with these men? For the fact that an ^bextraordinary miracle has taken place through them is public knowledge and clearly evident to all the residents of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to keep it from spreading further among the people and the nation, let us sternly warn them not to speak again to anyone ^ain this name.” 18 So they sent for them, and ^acommanded them not to speak as His representatives or teach at all in the name of Jesus using Him as their authority. 19 But ^aPeter and John replied to them, “^bWhether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must judge for yourselves; 20 for ^awe, on our part, cannot stop telling people about what we have seen and heard.” 21 When the rulers and Council members had threatened them further, they let them go, finding no way to punish them ^abecause of their fear of the people, for they were all ^bpraising and glorifying and honoring God for what had happened; 22 for the man to whom this sign (attesting miracle) of healing had happened was more than forty years old.

23 After Peter and John were released, they returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “O Sovereign Lord having complete power and authority, it is You who ^aMADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THEM, Ex 20:11; Ps 146:6 25 who ^aby the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David, Your servant, said,‘^bWHY DID THE NATIONS (Gentiles) BECOME ARROGANT and RAGE,AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS against the Lord?

27 For in this city there were gathered together against Your holy ^aServant Jesus, whom You anointed, both ^bHerod and ^cPontius Pilate, along with ^dthe Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and ^aYour purpose predestined before the creation of the world to occur and so without knowing it, they served Your own purpose. 29 And now, Lord, observe their threats take them into account and grant that Your bond-servants may ^adeclare Your message of salvation with great ^bconfidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and ^asigns and wonders (attesting miracles) take place through the name and the authority and power of Your holy ^bServant and Son Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the ^aplace where they were meeting together was shaken a sign of God’s presence; and they were all ^bfilled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^cspeak the word of God with ^dboldness and courage.

32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was exclusively his own, but ^aeverything was common property and for the use of all. 33 And ^awith great ability and power the apostles were continuously ^btestifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace God’s remarkable lovingkindness and favor and goodwill rested richly upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were ^aselling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales 35 and ^aplacing the money down at the apostles’ feet. Then it was ^bdistributed to each as anyone had need.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite and native of ^aCyprus, who was surnamed ^1bBarnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^cEncouragement), 37 sold a field belonging to him and brought the money and ^aset it at the apostles’ feet.