1. The priests and the captain of the temple guard nd the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.
2. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
4. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grea to about five thousand.
5. The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.
6. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priet's family.
7. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to questino them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"
8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!
9. If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being aske dhow he was healed,
10. then 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.
11. Jesus is "'the sone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.'
12. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
13. When they saw the coueage of Peter and John and realized that they wer unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
14. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.
15. So 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 perfomed a notale sign, and we cannot deny it
17. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name."
18. Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19. But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!
20. As for us, we canot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
21. After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were paising God for what had happened.
22. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
23. On 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.
24. When they heard this, they raised their vioces together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
25. You spoke by the Holu Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
26. The kings of the earth rise up and teh rulers band together against he Lord and against his anointed one.'
27. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiels and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, hwom you anointed.
28. They did what you rpwoer adn will had decided beforehand should happen
29. Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
30. Stretch out your hadn to heal and perfomr signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
31. After 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.
32. All 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.
33. With great power the apostles continued to testify to teh resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all
34. that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to tmie those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35. and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36. Joseph, a Levitesfrom Cyprus, whom teh apostles called Barnanas (which means "son of encouragement"),
37. sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
It is right to listen to God and not the world: "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him?" With overflowing grace I have been lead thus far, indeed as for me, I cannot help speaking about what I have recieved, seen, taught and heard! That's my purpose of life here on earth and with gladness I will obey. In Jesus' name Amen