N S B - Acts 4 thru 6
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Acts Chapter 4
1 As they spoke to the people, the chief priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them.
2 They were annoyed because they taught the people through Jesus. They preached the resurrection from the dead.
3 They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day for it was already evening.
4 Many who heard the word believed. There were about five thousand men.
5 The next morning their rulers, elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 They stood them in their presence and asked: “By what power or by what name do you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said: “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 “If we are on trial for a good deed done to a sick man, concerning how this man was made well;
10 “Let it be known to you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you impaled and whom God raised from the dead, even by him this man stands before you healed.
11 “This is the stone that was rejected by you builders. It became the chief corner stone.
12 “There is no salvation in anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
13 They observed the confidence of Peter and John. Yet they thought they were uneducated (not formally educated) and ordinary men. They were amazed and recognized them as having been with Jesus.
14 Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.
15 They ordered them to leave the council. Then they conferred among themselves.
16 They said: “What shall we do to these men? The fact that a notable miracle has been done by them is evident to all who live in Jerusalem. And we cannot deny it.
17 “We must warn these men not to speak about it in order to stop this from spreading further among the people.”
18 They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 Peter and John answered: “You judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God.
20 “We cannot stop speaking the things we have seen and heard.”
21 When they further threatened them, they let them go. They found no basis for punishment because of the people for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22 The man who received the miracle of healing was about forty years old.
23 Being released, they went to their own and reported all that the chief priests and elders said to them.
24 When they heard they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said: “Jehovah, you are God who made heaven and earth, the sea and all in them.
25 “You spoke by the mouth of your servant David: Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against Jehovah, and against his Christ. (Psalm 2:1, 2)
27 Truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the people of the nations and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servent Jesus, whom you anointed.
28 “They were there to do the things your hand and council foreordained to occur.
29 “Now Jehovah behold their threats and grant that your servants keep speaking your word with boldness.
30 “You extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders appear in the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 When they prayed, the place where they assembled together was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
32 The congregation that believed was of one heart and mind. No one claimed his or her own possessions for everything was common property.
33 The apostles witnessed about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power. Grace (God’s loving kindness) was upon them all.
34 There was no needy person among them for as many as possessed land or houses sold them, and brought the money from the things that were sold.
35 They gave it to the apostles. Distribution was made to every man according as he had need.
36 Joses, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, (this meaning: The son of consolation,) was a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus.
37 He sold his land and brought the money to the apostles.
Acts Chapter 5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
2 They kept back part of the money. His wife was also knowledgeable of the transaction. They brought part of the funds to the apostles.
3 Peter said: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the money from the land sale?
4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your power? Why did you conceive this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.”
5 Hearing these words Ananias fell down and died. Great fear came over all those who heard these things.
6 The young men arose, covered him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 Peter said to her: “Tell me whether you sold the land for such a price?” And she said: “Yes, we did.”
9 Then Peter said: “How is it that you have agreed together to put God’s Spirit to the test? Look, those who buried your husband are at the door to carry you out.”
10 Then she fell down at his feet and died. The young men came in, and found her dead. They carried her out to be buried by her husband.
11 Great fear came upon the entire congregation who heard these things.
12 The apostles performed many wonders among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
13 None of the rest dared to associate with them, but the people held them in high esteem.
14 More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
15 They brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and cots in order that the shadow might fall on them when Peter passed by.
16 Crowds came from the cities near Jerusalem. They brought sick people and people with unclean spirits and everyone of them was healed.
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those of the sect of the Sadducees who were with him were filled with indignation.
18 They captured the apostles and put them in the common prison.
19 During the night God’s angel opened the prison doors, brought them out and said:
20 “Go stand in the temple and speak to the people all the sayings about this life.”
21 After they heard this they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came and those who were with him. He called the council together and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 The officers did not find them in the prison when they came. So they returned and said,
23 "We found the prison locked with the guards standing before the doors. When we opened it we did not find a man."
24 When the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted them. They wondered what this would come to.
25 Someone came to them and told them: “The men you put in prison are standing in the temple teaching the people.”
26 Then the captain with the officers brought them in without violence. They feared the people lest they should have been stoned.
27 They brought them before the council and the high priest asked them:
28 “Did we command you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are willing to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
29 Peter and the other apostles answered: “We must obey God rather than men.
30 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed. You hanged him on a stake.
31 “God exalted him to his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 “We are witnesses of these things. The Holy Spirit, which God gave to those who obey him, also witnessed.”
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to kill them.
34 One of the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had a reputation among all the people. He commanded to put the apostles outside for a while.
35 He said to them: “You men of Israel be careful what you intend to do to these men.
36 “Sometime ago Theudas claimed to be somebody. About four hundred men joined and obeyed him. He was killed and they finally dispersed.
37 “After this man Judas of Galilee rose in the days of the taxing, and drew away many people after him. He also perished and all who obeyed him dispersed.
38 “I tell you: Leave these men alone. If this message and this work are from men it will come to nothing.
39 “But if it is from God, you cannot overthrow it; otherwise you may find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 They agreed with him and called the apostles. They beat them and commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go.
41 They left the council and rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 They taught daily in the temple and in every house. They did not cease to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Acts Chapter 6
1 The number of disciples increased at that time. A murmuring arose on the part of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2 The twelve called the congregation of the disciples to them. They said: “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God and serve tables.
3 “Therefore brothers select seven men who have a good reputation. Men who are full of spirit and wisdom that we may appoint to take care of this business.
4 “We will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 The idea pleased the whole congregation. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch,
6 whom they set before the apostles. After they prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 The word of God increased. The number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. Even a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Certain men arose from the synagogue. It was called the synagogue of the Libertines, Cyrenians and Alexandrians. Some of them were from Cilicia and Asia. They argued with Stephen.
10 They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke.
11 They secretly induced me to say: “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.”
12 They stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and pursued him. They caught him and brought him to the council.
13 They brought false witnesses, which said: “This man will not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law.
14 “We heard him say: 'This Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”
15 All who sat in the council looked intently at him and saw his face was like the face of an angel.
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