Acts 4

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Ref And while they were talking to the people, the priests and the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came up to them,

2 Ref Being greatly troubled because they were teaching the people and preaching Jesus as an example of the coming back from the dead.

3 Ref And they took them and put them in prison till the morning, for it was now evening.

4 Ref But a number of those who gave hearing to the word had faith; and they were now about five thousand.

5 Ref And on the day after, the rulers and those in authority and the scribes came together in Jerusalem;

6 Ref And Annas, the high priest, was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all the relations of the high priest.

7 Ref Then sending for Peter and John, they said, By what power and in whose name have you done this?

8 Ref Then Peter, being full of the Holy Spirit, said to them, O you rulers of the people and men of authority,

9 Ref If we are questioned today about a good work done to a man who was ill, as to how he has been made well,

10 Ref Take note, all of you, and all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you put to death on the cross, whom God gave back from the dead, even through him is this man now before you completely well.

11 Ref He is the stone which you builders had no use for, but which has been made the chief stone of the building.

12 Ref And in no other is there salvation: for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, through which we may have salvation.

13 Ref Now when they saw that Peter and John were without fear, though they were men of no education or learning, they were greatly surprised; and they took note of them that they had been with Jesus.

14 Ref And, seeing that the man who had been made well was there with them, they were not able to say anything against it.

15 Ref But when they had given them orders to go out of the Sanhedrin, they had a discussion among themselves,

16 Ref Saying, What are we to do with these men? for certainly it is clear to all who are living in Jerusalem that a most important sign has been done by them, and it is not possible to say that it is not so.

17 Ref But so that it may not go farther among the people, let us put them in fear of punishment if they say anything in future in this name.

18 Ref And they sent for them, and gave them orders not to make statements or give teaching in the name of Jesus.

19 Ref But Peter and John in answer said to them, It is for you to say if it is right in the eyes of God to give attention to you more than to God:

20 Ref For it is not possible for us to keep from saying what we have seen and have knowledge of.

21 Ref And when they had said more sharp words to them, they let them go, not seeing what punishment they might give them, because of the people; for all men were giving praise to God for what had taken place.

22 Ref For the man on whom this act of power was done was more than forty years old.

23 Ref And when they had been made free, they came back to their friends, and gave an account of all the things which the chief priests and the authorities had said to them.

24 Ref And hearing it, they all, with one mind, made prayer to God and said, O Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all things in them:

25 Ref Who has said, by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David your servant, Why are the nations so violently moved, and why are the thoughts of the people so foolish?

26 Ref The kings of the earth were lifted up, the rulers came together, against the Lord, and against his Christ:

27 Ref For, truly, in this town, against your holy servant, Jesus, who was marked out by you as Christ, Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, came together,

28 Ref To do that which had been fixed before by your hand and your purpose.

29 Ref And now, Lord, take note of their cruel words, and give your servants power to be preachers of your word without fear,

30 Ref While your hand is stretched out to do works of mercy; so that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

31 Ref And when their prayer was ended, the place where they were was violently moved, and they all became full of the Holy Spirit, preaching the word of God without fear.

32 Ref And all those who were of the faith were one in heart and soul: and not one of them said that any of the things which he had was his property only; but they had all things in common.

33 Ref And with great power the Apostles gave witness of the coming back of the Lord Jesus from the dead; and grace was on them all.

34 Ref And no one among them was in need; for everyone who had land or houses, exchanging them for money, took the price of them,

35 Ref And put it at the feet of the Apostles for distribution to everyone as he had need.

36 Ref And Joseph, who was given by the Apostles the name of Barnabas (the sense of which is, Son of comfort), a Levite and a man of Cyprus by birth,

37 Ref Having a field, got money for it and put the money at the feet of the Apostles.

American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)

1 Ref And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

2 Ref being sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 Ref And they laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: for it was now eventide.

4 Ref But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

5 Ref And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;

6 Ref and Annas the high priest `was there', and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.

7 Ref And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this?

8 Ref Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,

9 Ref if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole;

10 Ref be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, `even' in him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11 Ref He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner.

12 Ref And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.

13 Ref Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

14 Ref And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15 Ref But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

16 Ref saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

17 Ref But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

18 Ref And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19 Ref But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye:

20 Ref for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.

21 Ref And they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done.

22 Ref For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was wrought.

23 Ref And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them.

24 Ref And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:

25 Ref who by the Holy Spirit, `by' the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?

26 Ref The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:

27 Ref for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,

28 Ref to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass.

29 Ref And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,

30 Ref while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus.

31 Ref And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

32 Ref And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one `of them' said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 Ref And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34 Ref For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 Ref and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need.

36 Ref And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,

37 Ref having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Chapter 4 of 28

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