Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
1The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11Jesus is
“ ‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’4:11 Psalm 118:22
12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
The Believers Pray
23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“ ‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ’4:26 Psalm 2:1,2
27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
唯一的救主
1彼得和约翰向百姓讲道的时候，祭司、圣殿护卫长和撒都该人赶来了。 2他们非常恼怒，因为彼得和约翰在教导百姓，并宣讲借着耶稣死人可以复活。 3于是他们下手捉拿二人，因天色已晚，就把他们扣押了一夜。 4但有许多听道的人信了，男人的数目约有五千人。
5第二天，官长、长老和律法教师都聚集在耶路撒冷， 6大祭司亚那，以及该亚法、约翰、亚历山大和大祭司的许多亲族都在场。 7他们让使徒站在当中，质问道：“你们凭什么权柄、奉谁的名这样做？”
8那时彼得被圣灵充满，对他们说：“各位百姓的官长和长老啊， 9如果因为那残疾的乞丐得到医治这件善事，你们今天来查问我们他是如何痊愈的， 10那么，你们和所有以色列人都应当知道，他能健康地站在你们面前，全是靠拿撒勒人耶稣基督的名！你们把祂钉在十字架上，但上帝使祂从死里复活了。
11“‘祂是你们工匠丢弃的石头，
已成了房角石。’4:11 诗篇118:22。
12除祂以外，别无救主，因为普天之下没有赐给世人别的名让我们可以靠着得救！”
13在场的人看到彼得和约翰的胆量，又知道他们原是没有学问的平民百姓，都很惊奇。他们认出这些人跟随过耶稣， 14又见那个被治好的人站在他们旁边，便无话可说， 15只好命令他们离开公会，然后彼此商量说： 16“我们该怎样处置这两个人呢？整个耶路撒冷的居民都知道他们行了一个神迹，我们无法否认。 17然而，为了避免这件事在民间传得更广，我们必须警告他们以后不许再奉耶稣的名向任何人传道。”
18于是，他们又把使徒召来，严禁他们再奉耶稣的名讲论或教导。 19但彼得和约翰答道：“要我们听从你们而不听从上帝，这在上帝看来合理吗？你们自己决定吧。 20我们耳闻目睹的，不能不说！” 21官长实在不知道如何惩治使徒，只好再次恐吓之后把他们放了，因为百姓都为这个神迹赞美上帝。 22在这次神迹中蒙上帝医治的那个人已经四十多岁了。
同心祷告
23彼得和约翰被释放之后，就回到自己人那里，把祭司长和长老的话都告诉大家。 24大家听后，一同高声向上帝祷告说：“主啊，你创造了天地、海洋和其中的万物。 25你借着圣灵感动你的仆人——我们的祖先大卫说，
“‘列国为何咆哮？
万民为何枉费心机？
26世上的君王一同行动，官长聚集起来，
要抵挡主和祂所膏立的王。’4:26 诗篇2:1、2。
27“果然如此，希律和本丢·彼拉多、外族人和以色列人都聚集在这城里，要对抗你膏立的圣仆耶稣， 28然而他们只不过是成就你凭自己的大能和旨意所预定的事。 29主啊，你看他们这样恐吓我们，求你帮助你的奴仆们坦然无惧地传你的道。 30求你伸出手医治疾病，借着你圣仆耶稣的名行神迹奇事。”
31祷告完后，聚会的地方震动起来，他们都被圣灵充满，放胆传扬上帝的道。
共用一切
32当时所有信徒都同心合意，共用所有的东西，没有人说他的财物只属于自己。 33使徒充满能力，继续为主耶稣复活的事做见证，上帝也赐下极大的恩典给众人。 34信徒都一无所缺，因为大家卖掉房屋田产，把所得的钱拿来， 35放在使徒脚前，按照各人的需要分给大家。
36有个生在塞浦路斯的利未人名叫约瑟，使徒叫他巴拿巴，意思是劝慰者。 37他卖掉自己的一块田，把卖得的钱交给了使徒。
