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.
Petro Na Yohana Mbele Ya Baraza
14:1 Lk 22:4; Mt 3:7; 16:1-6Wakati Petro na Yohana walipokuwa wakisema na watu, makuhani, mkuu wa walinzi wa Hekalu na Masadukayo wakawajia, 24:2 Mdo 17:18huku wakiwa wamekasirika sana kwa sababu mitume walikuwa wanawafundisha watu na kuhubiri kwamba kuna ufufuo wa wafu ndani ya Yesu. 34:3 Mdo 5:18Wakawakamata Petro na Yohana na kuwatia gerezani mpaka kesho yake kwa kuwa ilikuwa jioni. 44:4 Mdo 2:41Lakini wengi waliosikia lile neno waliamini, idadi yao ilikuwa yapata wanaume 5,000.
54:5 Lk 23:13Kesho yake, viongozi wa Kiyahudi, wazee na walimu wa sheria wakakusanyika Yerusalemu. 64:6 Mt 26:3; Lk 3:2Walikuwepo kuhani mkuu Anasi, Kayafa, Yohana, Iskanda, na wengi wa jamaa ya kuhani mkuu. 74:7 Kut 2:14; Mt 21:23; Mdo 7:27Baada ya kuwasimamisha Petro na Yohana katikati yao, wakawauliza, “Ni kwa uwezo gani au kwa jina la nani mmefanya jambo hili?”
84:8 Lk 23:13; Mt 10:19, 20Petro, akiwa amejaa Roho Mtakatifu, akajibu, “Enyi watawala na wazee wa watu, 94:9 Mdo 3:6kama leo tukihojiwa kwa habari ya mambo mema aliyotendewa yule kiwete na kuulizwa jinsi alivyoponywa, 104:10 Mdo 2:24; Mk 1:24ijulikane kwenu nyote na kwa watu wote wa Israeli kwamba: Ni kwa jina la Yesu Kristo wa Nazareti, ambaye ninyi mlimsulubisha lakini Mungu akamfufua kutoka kwa wafu, kwa jina hilo mtu huyu anasimama mbele yenu akiwa mzima kabisa. 114:11 Zek 10:4; Efe 2:20Huyu ndiye
“ ‘jiwe ambalo ninyi wajenzi mlilikataa,
ambalo limekuwa jiwe kuu la pembeni.’
124:12 Yn 14:6; Rum 11:14Wala hakuna wokovu katika mwingine awaye yote, kwa maana hakuna jina jingine chini ya mbingu walilopewa wanadamu litupasalo sisi kuokolewa kwalo.”
Ujasiri Wa Petro Na Yohana Washangaza Watu
134:13 Lk 22:8; Mt 11:25Wale viongozi na wazee walipoona ujasiri wa Petro na Yohana na kujua ya kuwa walikuwa watu wa kawaida, wasio na elimu, walishangaa sana, wakatambua kwamba hawa watu walikuwa na Yesu. 144:14 Mdo 3:8, 9; 3:11Lakini kwa kuwa walikuwa wanamwona yule kiwete aliyeponywa amesimama pale pamoja nao, hawakuweza kusema lolote kuwapinga. 154:15 Mt 5:22Wakawaamuru watoke nje ya Baraza la Wayahudi4:15 Baraza la Wayahudi hapa ina maana ya Sanhedrin ambalo lilikuwa ndilo baraza la juu kabisa la utawala wa Kiyahudi, lililoundwa na wazee 70 pamoja na kuhani mkuu. wakati wakisemezana jambo hilo wao kwa wao. 164:16 Yn 11:47; Mdo 3:6-10Wakaulizana, “Tuwafanyie nini watu hawa? Hatuwezi kukanusha muujiza huu mkubwa walioufanya ambao ni dhahiri kwa kila mtu Yerusalemu. 174:17 Mdo 5:28Lakini ili kuzuia jambo hili lisiendelee kuenea zaidi kwa watu, ni lazima tuwaonye watu hawa ili wasiseme tena na mtu yeyote kwa jina la Yesu.” 184:18 Amo 7:13; Mdo 5:40Kisha wakawaita tena ndani na kuwaamuru wasiseme wala kufundisha kamwe kwa hili jina la Yesu.
Imetupasa Kumtii Mungu Kuliko Wanadamu
194:19 Mdo 5:29Lakini Petro na Yohana wakajibu, “Amueni ninyi wenyewe iwapo ni haki mbele za Mungu kuwatii ninyi kuliko kumtii Mungu. 204:20 Mdo 1:8; 2:32; 22; 15; 1Yn 1:1, 3Lakini sisi hatuwezi kuacha kusema yale tuliyoyaona na kuyasikia.”
214:21 Mdo 5:26; Mt 9:8Baada ya vitisho vingi, wakawaacha waende zao. Hawakuona njia yoyote ya kuwaadhibu, kwa sababu ya watu, kwa kuwa watu wote walikuwa wakimsifu Mungu kwa kile kilichokuwa kimetukia. 22Kwa kuwa umri wa yule mtu aliyekuwa ameponywa kwa muujiza ulikuwa zaidi ya miaka arobaini.
Maombi Ya Waumini
234:23 Mdo 12; 12Punde Petro na Yohana walipoachiliwa, walirudi kwa waumini wenzao wakawaeleza waliyoambiwa na viongozi wa makuhani na wazee. 244:24 2Fal 19:15; Kut 20:11; Za 146:6; Isa 37:16; Lk 2:29; Ufu 6:10Watu waliposikia hayo, wakainua sauti zao, wakamwomba Mungu kwa pamoja, wakisema, “Bwana Mwenyezi, uliyeziumba mbingu na nchi na bahari, na vitu vyote vilivyomo. 254:25 Za 2:1, 2Wewe ulisema kwa Roho Mtakatifu kupitia kwa kinywa cha baba yetu Daudi, mtumishi wako, ukasema:
“ ‘Mbona mataifa wanaghadhibika,
na kabila za watu zinawaza ubatili?
264:26 Dan 9:25; Lk 4:18Wafalme wa dunia wamejipanga,
na watawala wanakusanyika pamoja
dhidi ya Bwana
na dhidi ya Mpakwa Mafuta wake.’
274:27 Mt 14:1; 27:2; Lk 23:12; Mdo 3:13-14Ni kweli Herode na Pontio Pilato pamoja na watu wa Mataifa na Waisraeli, walikusanyika katika mji huu dhidi ya mwanao mtakatifu Yesu uliyemtia mafuta. 284:28 Mdo 2:23Wao wakafanya yale ambayo uweza wako na mapenzi yako yalikuwa yamekusudia yatokee tangu zamani. 294:29 Za 138:3; Efe 6:19Sasa, Bwana angalia vitisho vyao na utuwezeshe sisi watumishi wako kulinena neno lako kwa ujasiri mkuu. 304:30 Yn 4:48Nyoosha mkono wako ili kuponya wagonjwa na kutenda ishara na miujiza kwa jina la Mwanao mtakatifu Yesu.”
314:31 Mdo 2:2, 4; 16:26; Lk 1:15; Ebr 4:12Walipokwisha kuomba, mahali walipokuwa wamekutanika pakatikiswa, wote wakajazwa na Roho Mtakatifu, wakanena neno la Mungu kwa ujasiri.
Walioamini Washirikiana Mali Zao
324:32 Mdo 2:44Wale walioamini wote walikuwa na moyo mmoja na nia moja. Wala hakuna hata mmoja aliyesema chochote alichokuwa nacho ni mali yake mwenyewe, lakini walishirikiana kila kitu walichokuwa nacho. 334:33 Lk 24:48; Mdo 1:22Mitume wakatoa ushuhuda wa kufufuka kwa Bwana Yesu kwa nguvu nyingi na neema ya Mungu ilikuwa juu yao wote. 344:34 Mt 19; 21; Mdo 2:45Wala hapakuwepo mtu yeyote miongoni mwao aliyekuwa mhitaji, kwa sababu mara kwa mara wale waliokuwa na mashamba na nyumba waliviuza, wakaleta thamani ya vitu vilivyouzwa, 354:35 Mdo 5:2; 2:45; 6:1wakaiweka miguuni pa mitume, kila mtu akagawiwa kadiri ya mahitaji yake.
364:36 1Kor 9:6; Gal 2:1, 9-13Yosefu, Mlawi kutoka Kipro, ambaye mitume walimwita Barnaba (maana yake Mwana wa Faraja), 374:37 Mdo 5:2aliuza shamba alilokuwa nalo, akaleta hizo fedha alizopata na kuziweka miguuni pa mitume.
