Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

3 One day Peter and Johnh were going up to the templei at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.j 2 Now a man who was lame from birthk was being carried to the temple gatel called Beautiful, where he was put every day to begm from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,n walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping,o and praising God. 9 When all the peoplep saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful,q and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

11 While the man held on to Peter and John,r all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.s 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,t the God of our fathers,u has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him overv to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate,w though he had decided to let him go.x 14 You disowned the Holyy and Righteous Onez and asked that a murderer be released to you.a 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.b We are witnessesc of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus,d this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

17 “Now, fellow Israelites,e I know that you acted in ignorance,f as did your leaders.g 18 But this is how God fulfilledh what he had foretoldi through all the prophets,j saying that his Messiah would suffer.k 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,l that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah,m who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive himn until the time comes for God to restore everything,o as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.p 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.q 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’a r

24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophetss who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirst of the prophets and of the covenantu God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’b v 26 When God raised upw his servant, he sent him firstx to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

4 The priests and the captain of the temple guardy and the Sadduceesz 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.a 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jailb until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grewc to about five thousand.

5 The next day the rulers,d the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas,e John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,f said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!g 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lameh and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,i whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,j that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“ ‘the stone you builders rejected,

which has become the cornerstone.’a k

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.”l

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and Johnm and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,n they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.o 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 Sanhedrinp and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?”q they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,r 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.s 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?t You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speakingu about what we have seen and heard.”v

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the peoplew were praising Godx for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers Pray

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 voices together in prayer to God.y “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.z 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:a

“ ‘Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth rise up

and the rulers band together

against the Lord

and against his anointed one.b’c b

27 Indeed Herodc and Pontius Pilated met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,e whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.f 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.g 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wondersh through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”i

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.j And they were all filled with the Holy Spiritk and spoke the word of Godl boldly.m

The Believers Share Their Possessions

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.n 33 With great power the apostles continued to testifyo to the resurrectionp of the Lord Jesus. And God’s graceq was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,r brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet,s and it was distributed to anyone who had need.t

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabasu (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.v

Ananias and Sapphira

5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself,w but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.x

3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satany has so filled your heartz that you have lied to the Holy Spirita and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?b 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?c What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”d

5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.e And great fearf seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body,g and carried him out and buried him.

7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”h

9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?i Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.j Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.k 11 Great fearl seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

12 The apostles performed many signs and wondersm among the people. And all the believers used to meet togethern in Solomon’s Colonnade.o 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.p 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.q 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.r 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.s

The Apostles Persecuted

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the partyt of the Sadducees,u were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.v 19 But during the night an angelw of the Lord opened the doors of the jailx and brought them out.y 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”z

21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associatesa arrived, they called together the Sanhedrinb—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there.c So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priestsd were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the peoplee would stone them.

27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrinf to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”g he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”h

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!i 30 The God of our ancestorsj raised Jesus from the deadk—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.l 31 God exalted him to his own right handm as Prince and Saviorn that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.o 32 We are witnesses of these things,p and so is the Holy Spirit,q whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, they were furiousr and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,s a teacher of the law,t who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the censusu and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.v 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”w

40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged.x Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicingy because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.z 42 Day after day, in the temple courtsa and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good newsb that Jesus is the Messiah.c