Acts 4

(1) Peter and John Imprisoned

As Peter and John were talking to the crowd, the priests, Sadducees, and captain of the temple’s guards came up to them and were really upset about the way they were teaching everyone and saying that the dead would be resurrected in Jesus. It was already evening, so the officials seized them and threw them in jail until the next day. Lots of people who heard the message that day believed, putting the number of men at about 5,000.

(5) Apostles Credit Jesus while on Trial

The next day, the leaders, elders, and Bible students got together in Jerusalem. Some of the people there were: Annas (the high priest), John, Alexander [one of the high priest’s relatives], and others who had high priestly ancestry. After placing Peter and John in the center, they interrogated them,

“What powers did you use to do this? And whose name did you do it in?”

Having just been filled with the Different Spirit, Peter told them,

“Leaders and elders of the people, the reason we’re on trial today was for helping a disabled man, and now you want to know how he was restored to health. Well, I want you and all of Israel’s residents to know something:  it was in the name of Jesus the Chosen One—the man you crucified and God resurrected—that this man now stands in front of you in good health.

“Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that became the most important corner stone [Psalm 118:22].

“Rescue can’t be found in anyone else—after all, there isn’t any other name under heaven that’s needed for facilitating our rescue.”

(13) Apostles Refuse to Stop Promoting Jesus

The leaders marveled at how boldly confident Peter and John were, realizing that they were uneducated laymen. They could recognize that Peter and John had been with Jesus, and as they looked at the healed man standing in front of them, they had no reply. So they dismissed them from the Council and said to each other,

“What should we do with these guys? Everyone in Jerusalem can see that a noteworthy sigh has taken place through them, and we can’t deny the fact that it happened. But we don’t want this spreading through town any more than it already has, so let’s warn them not to talk to anyone else in this name.”

So they summoned them back in and ordered them not to talk or teach in the name of Jesus anymore. But Peter and John replied,

“Is it right to listen to you instead of God? We’ll let you guys be the judge of God’s perspective on that. But we can’t stop talking about the things we’ve seen and heard.”

So the leaders threatened them some more but couldn’t find any reason to punish them. So they let them go to appease the crowd, since they were all raving about God because of what had taken place. The man who had been healed was over 40 years old.

(23) Prayer for Boldness Answered

After being released, Peter and John went back to their community and told them about the priests’ threats. When they heard the news, they prayed,

“Master, You’re the one who made the universe, the world, the ocean, and everything in them. By Your Different Spirit, You said through our forefather, David,

‘Why did everyone go into a rage? And why do the people care about such pointless things? The world’s kings are on their way here, and the leaders were gathered together against the Ruler and against His Chosen One.’
—Psalm 2:1

“In this city alone, there were lots of people gathered together against Your Different son/servant, Jesus, who you set apart: Herod, Pontius Pilate, non-Jews, and Jews. They’re all gathering to do whatever it is that You’ve already powerfully and intentionally destined to take place. Ruler, take note of the threats being made in our current situation, and allow your servants to share Your message full of boldness while You reach out Your hand to heal, and while signs and phenomena take place through the name of Your Different servant, Jesus.”

When they finished telling God this, the whole place shook where they were staying, and they were all filled with the Different Spirit and began boldly talking about God’s message.

(32) Believers Shared Everything

The group of believers had one heart and soul—not one of them viewed anything as belonging to himself. Instead, they all considered everything as communal property. The apostles continued testifying very powerfully to Master Jesus’s resurrection, and there was so much grace on all of them. There wasn’t a single needy person in their group, because everyone who owned real estate or housing would sell them and lay the proceeds at the apostles’ feet, who then distributed it to the people who had needs. 

Joseph was a great example of this. He was a Levite born in Cyprus, and the apostles called him Barnabas which means “Son of Encouragement.” He used to own a piece of land, but sold it and brought the money to the apostles and laid it at their feet.