Acts 4

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

1Peter and John were still talking to the people. Then the priests came up to them. The captain of the temple guards came too. So did the Sadducees, one group of Jewish leaders.

2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

2These leaders were very upset. Peter and John were teaching the people. They said that because of Jesus, dead people come back to life.

3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

3So they grabbed Peter and John. It was already evening. They locked them up until the next day.

Note"Eventide" is an old word for evening.

4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

4But many people who heard the message believed it. The number of men grew to about five thousand.

5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

5The next day the leaders met together in Jerusalem. The older leaders came. So did the scribes, the men who copied and taught God's laws.

6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

6Annas the high priest was there. The high priest was the top leader at the temple. Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there too. So were many others from the high priest's family.

7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

7They made Peter and John stand in the middle. Then they asked them a question. "Whose power did you use? Whose name did you use to do this?"

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

8Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said, "Rulers and older leaders of the people,

9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

9you are asking us about a kind thing we did. A man who could not walk was made well. You want to know how it happened.

10Be 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.

10Here is what all of you should know. All the people of Israel should know it too. This man is standing here well again. It happened by the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You put Jesus on a cross to die. But God raised him back to life.

11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

11The Bible talks about builders who threw away a stone. You leaders are those builders, and Jesus is that stone. Now that stone holds up the whole building.

NotePeter quotes a psalm about a stone builders rejected. The "head of the corner" is the cornerstone, the most important stone in a building.

12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

12No one else can save us. God has given people no other name that saves us."

13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

13The leaders saw how brave Peter and John were. They knew these were plain men without special schooling. That surprised them. They also realized these men had been with Jesus.

Note"Unlearned and ignorant" does not mean stupid. It means they had no special training as teachers of the law.

14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

14The healed man was standing right there with them. So the leaders had nothing to say.

15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

15They told Peter and John to step outside the meeting room. Then the leaders talked it over.

16Saying, 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.

16They said, "What should we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about the amazing thing they did. We cannot say it did not happen.

17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

17But we must stop this news from spreading. Let us warn them strongly. They must not speak to anyone in this name again."

18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

18So they called them back in. They ordered them never to speak or teach in Jesus' name.

19But 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.

19But Peter and John answered them. "You decide what is right in God's eyes. Should we obey you instead of God?

20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

20We saw these things and heard them. We simply cannot stop talking about them."

21So 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.

21The leaders warned them some more and then let them go. They could not find a way to punish them. All the people were thanking God for what had happened.

22For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

22The man who was healed was more than forty years old.

23And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

23As soon as they were free, Peter and John went back to their friends. They told them everything the priests and leaders had said.

24And 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:

24When the friends heard this, they all prayed together. They said, "Lord, you are God. You made the heavens, the earth, and the sea. You made everything in them.

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

25Long ago you spoke through your servant David. He wrote, 'Why are the nations so angry? Why do the people make useless plans?

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

26The kings of the earth get ready to fight. The rulers join together against the Lord. They join together against his Chosen One.'

27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

27That is just what happened here against Jesus. Jesus is your holy servant, and you chose him. Herod and Pontius Pilate joined together against him. So did people from other nations and people of Israel.

NoteThe KJV calls Jesus God's "holy child." The word means servant, not a young child.

28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

28They did the very things you had already planned. You decided long before that this would happen.

29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

29Now, Lord, listen to their threats. Help us, your servants, to speak your word bravely.

30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

30Reach out your hand and heal people. Let signs and wonders happen by the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31And 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.

31When they finished praying, the building shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They spoke God's word bravely.

32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

32All the believers were like one heart and one person. No one said, "This thing is mine alone." They shared everything they had.

33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

33With great power the apostles kept telling people the news. They said the Lord Jesus came back to life. And God was very kind to all of them.

34Neither 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,

34No one among them went without what they needed. People who owned land or houses sold them. Then they brought the money from the sale.

35And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

35They laid the money at the apostles' feet. It was given out to each person who needed it.

36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

36One man was named Joses, and the apostles called him Barnabas. That name means "son of comfort." He was a Levite, from a family that helped at the temple. He came from Cyprus, an island.

37Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

37He owned a field, so he sold it. He brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.