Acts 4

King James Version

Full text for Acts Chapter 4

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

2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3And they laid hands on them, and put [them] in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

5¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

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

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

9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

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

14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

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

16Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them [is] manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny [it].

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

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

19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

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

22For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

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

24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou [art] God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

32¶ And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any [of them] that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

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

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

35And laid [them] down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, [and] of the country of Cyprus,

37Having land, sold [it], and brought the money, and laid [it] at the apostles' feet.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Peter and John are arrested for preaching Jesus' resurrection and healing a lame man, but many believe, increasing the number of disciples. Before the Sanhedrin, Peter boldly declares that the healing and salvation are only through Jesus Christ. Despite threats, the apostles refuse to stop speaking of what they have seen and heard, and the community of believers responds with prayer for boldness and by sharing their possessions.

Medium Summary

As Peter and John spoke to the people, the priests, temple captain, and Sadducees arrested them, being grieved by their teaching of Jesus' resurrection, and imprisoned them until the next day. Nevertheless, many who heard believed, bringing the number of men to about five thousand. The following day, before the Jewish council, Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, boldly proclaimed that the lame man was healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified but God raised. He asserted that Jesus is the cornerstone and that salvation is found in no other name. The council, marveling at their boldness and unable to deny the miracle, threatened them not to speak or teach in Jesus' name. Peter and John defied them, stating they must obey God rather than men, and were released due to public support. Returning to their company, the believers prayed for continued boldness, and the place was shaken as they were filled with the Holy Ghost. The multitude of believers lived in unity, sharing all things in common, and the apostles powerfully witnessed to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Long Summary

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees apprehended them, being distressed by their teaching of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. They laid hands on them and put them in hold until the next day, as it was now eventide. Howbeit, many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand. On the morrow, the Jewish rulers, elders, and scribes, including Annas the high priest and Caiaphas, gathered in Jerusalem. They set Peter and John in their midst and questioned them, asking by what power or by what name they had performed the healing. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, boldly declared that the impotent man was made whole by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified but God raised from the dead. He identified Jesus as the stone rejected by the builders, which has become the head of the corner, and unequivocally stated that there is salvation in no other name under heaven. The council, observing Peter and John's boldness and realizing they were unlearned men who had been with Jesus, marvelled and could not refute the miracle, as the healed man stood with them. After commanding the apostles to withdraw, the council conferred, acknowledging the undeniable miracle but resolving to threaten them to prevent the message from spreading further. They commanded Peter and John not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. The apostles responded by asking whether it was right in God's sight to hearken unto them more than unto God, declaring they could not but speak the things they had seen and heard. After further threats, they were released, as the council found no way to punish them due to the people, who glorified God for the miracle. Upon their release, Peter and John returned to their company and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said. The believers then lifted their voices in prayer, acknowledging God as creator and asking for boldness to speak His word, with signs and wonders done through Jesus' name. As they prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking the word of God with boldness. The multitude of believers were of one heart and one soul, sharing all things in common, with no one claiming personal ownership of possessions. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all, with distribution made to every man according to his need, exemplified by Barnabas selling his land and laying the money at the apostles' feet.

Core Concepts

  • Persecution of ApostlesPeter and John are arrested and questioned by the Jewish religious authorities for preaching the resurrection of Jesus and performing a miracle of healing.
  • Boldness in WitnessPeter, filled with the Holy Ghost, fearlessly proclaims Jesus Christ as the source of healing and salvation before the Sanhedrin, despite facing opposition and threats.
  • Exclusivity of SalvationThe chapter explicitly states through Peter that "neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" than Jesus Christ.
  • Divine Authority vs. Human AuthorityPeter and John challenge the council's command to cease preaching, asserting their duty to obey God rather than men, declaring they cannot but speak what they have seen and heard.
  • Community Unity and SharingThe multitude of believers is described as being "of one heart and of one soul," sharing their possessions and distributing to those in need, ensuring no one lacked.
  • Power of PrayerAfter being released, the assembled believers pray fervently for boldness, and in response, the place is shaken, and they are all filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking God's word with renewed courage.
  • The CornerstoneJesus is identified as the "stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner," signifying His essential and foundational role despite being rejected by the religious leaders.