Peter and John standing before the council called the Sanhedrin
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1 While Peter and John were preaching to the people like that, the priests, the officer of the temple guards and the Sadducees came there.
2 Because these two were telling the people that people can rise to life, by taking Jesus as an example, those authorities became very angry.
3 So those authorities, having seized Peter and John, kept them in jail until the next morning because it was evening.
4 But even then many people, having heard their message, became believers.
The number of men who became believers was approximately five thousand (5,000).
5 The next morning the authorities, elders, and religious teachers gathered at Jerusalem's council called the Sanhedrin.
6 Among those who had gathered, were the high priest named Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and also the High Priest's family members.
7 Then, making Peter and John stand in the midst of them, they said, “With what authority and having spoken whose name, did you do this work?”
8 So Peter, full of the Holy Spirit's power, said, “People's authorities!
Elders!
9 About the healing of a lame man, if you are asking us the question, ‘How was this man healed?’,
10 you all and all the Israelite people must know this thing.
That is, that this lame man, who is standing before you, was healed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth town.
You killed Jesus, having nailed him on the log, but God caused him to be raised.
11 About that Jesus, it is written in the Scriptures like this:
‘The rock that you house builders threw out,
now stands as the most important from among the rocks.’
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That rock is this Jesus.
12 Except by the name of this Jesus, no one's name on earth* can save us.”
13 Those authorities came to know that Peter and John were illiterate and that they had been with Jesus.
But even then they were very amazed at having seen them speaking courageously in front of them.
14 As the lame man they had healed was along with them, they could not say anything against them.
15-16 Therefore the authorities, having commanded Peter and John, saying, “Go out from the Sanhedrin”, they discussed among themselves, “What should we do to them?
The people of Jerusalem know that this big miraculous deed has happened.
We cannot say that it didn't happen.
17 But, in order to stop this deed from spreading among the people, let's warn and send them off telling them not to speak to anyone about Jesus.”
18 And, having called the disciples one more time, the Sanhedrin authorities commanded them, “From now on, you must not speak and teach in the name of Jesus.”
19 But even then Peter and John said, “You think and tell us whether it is right in God's sight to listen to your word rather than God's word.
20 As for us, we cannot stop telling what we have seen and heard.”
21-22 So the Sanhedrin authorities, not knowing how to punish Peter and John, released them, having just warned them a little more.
Because the lame man who was healed was more than forty years old.
And all the people were praising God according to the miracle that happened.
The believers pray for courage
23 As soon as Peter and John were released, having gone to Jesus' devotees, they told everything that the chief priests and Sanhedrin elders had said.
24 Having listened to all those words, they all said with one mind, “God!
You are the creator of the sky,* earth, and seas, and all living creatures and all animals in them.
25-26 God, through the Holy Spirit, you caused your servant King David's mouth to say,
‘Why did the non-Jews shake with anger?
Why did those people make useless bad thoughts?
Why have the kings of this world become
opposed to the Lord and his chosen Christ?’
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27 In that way, in this city, King Herod, the governor Pontius Pilate, the Israelite people and non-Jews gathered together.
And they became opposed to Jesus, the holy servant you chose, one you whom you call Christ.
28 God!
What should happen by your power and plan that you decided earlier, like that they made it happen.
29 And now Lord, having seen their threats, give strength to us who are your servants in order to tell your message very courageously.
30 In order to heal the sick, and in order to do wonders and miraculous works in the name of your holy servant Jesus, stretch out your hand, and give strength” they prayed to God.
31 After praying, that place where they were gathered was shaken.
Then all the believers, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, started telling God's word courageously.
The believers being united
32 Jesus' believers were one in heart and mind in their devotion.
Without saying this is mine or yours, they started living, sharing each and every thing together.
33 Not only this, with even more power, the apostles gave witness about the Lord Jesus' resurrection from death.
Much of God's grace and blessings were on all the believers.
34-35 Having sold households and fields that they had, they used to bring and give that amount to the apostles.
They used to distribute whatever was needed to whoever was in need.
Through this, no one lacked anything.
36 Joseph, a descendant of Levi, was from the island* called Cyprus.
* The apostles named him Barnabas.
This means “Son who Encourages”.
37 Having sold his field, he brought the money and gave it to the apostles.