Acts 4:1-23

1As they were speaking to the people, the priests and 1the captain of the temple guard and 2the Sadducees 3came up to them, 2being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming 45in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them and 6put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who had heard the 7message believed; and 8the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

5On the next day, their 9rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6and 10Annas the high priest was there, and 11Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8Then Peter, 1213filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “1415Rulers and elders of the people, 9if we are 16on trial today for 17a benefit done to a sick man, as to 18how this man has been made well, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that 1920by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom 21God raised from the dead--22by 23this name this man stands here before you in good health. 112425He is the 26stone which was 27rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. 12And there is salvation in 28no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

13Now as they observed the 29confidence of 30Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and 31began to recognize them 32as having been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15But when they had ordered them to leave the 3334Council, they began to confer with one another, 16saying, “35What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a 36noteworthy 37miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any longer to any person 38in this name.” 18And when they had summoned them, they 39commanded them not to speak or teach at all 40in the name of Jesus. 19But 41Peter and John answered and said to them, “42Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; 20for 43we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) 44on account of the people, because they were all 45glorifying God for what had happened; 22for the man on whom this 46miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

23When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.