And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the  ¹captain of the temple and the  ²Sadducees came upon them,

Being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and announcing  ¹in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And they laid their hands on them and placed them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of men came to about five thousand.

And on the next day their rulers and elders and scribes were  ¹gathered together in Jerusalem,

As well as Annas the high priest and  ¹Caiaphas and  ²John and Alexander and as many as were of high-priestly descent.

And they stood them in the midst and inquired,  ¹By what power or in what name did you do this?

Then Peter,  ¹filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders,

If we today are being examined regarding a good deed done to a sick man, by what means this man has been  ¹healed,

Let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the  ¹Nazarene, whom  ²you crucified and whom  ³God has raised from the dead, in this name this man stands before you in good health.

This is the  ¹stone which was  ²considered as nothing by you, the builders, which has become the  ³head of the corner.

And there is salvation in no other, for neither is there another name under heaven given among men in which we must be saved.

And as they beheld the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were  ¹uneducated men and  ²laymen, they marveled and they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.

And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it.

But they ordered them to go away outside the  ¹Sanhedrin and conferred with one another,

Saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable sign has occurred through them is manifest to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

But in order that this would not be spread further among the people, let us threaten them that they no longer speak based upon this name to anyone.

And when they called them, they charged them not to utter anything at all nor teach based upon the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you judge;

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

And when they had further threatened them, they released them, finding no way that they could punish them on account of the people, because they all were glorifying God for what had happened;

For the man on whom this sign of healing had occurred was more than forty years old.

And when they had been released, they went to their  ¹own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

And when they heard this, they lifted up their voice with one accord to God and said,  ¹Sovereign Master, You are the One who has made heaven and earth and the sea and all things in them,

Who, through the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, has said, "Why did the Gentiles  ¹rage, and the peoples devise vain things?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.”

For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

To do what Your hand and Your counsel  ¹predestined to take place.

And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings and grant Your slaves to speak Your word with all boldness,

While stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may take place through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.

And when they had so besought, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all  ¹filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

And the heart and soul of the multitude of those who had believed was one; and  ¹not even one said that any of his possessions was his own, but all things were  ²common to them.

And with great power the apostles gave  ¹testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great  ²grace was upon them all.

For neither was anyone among them in need; for as many as were owners of lands or of houses  ¹sold them and brought the proceeds of the things which were sold

And placed them at the feet of the apostles; and it was distributed to each, as anyone had need.

And Joseph, who was surnamed  ¹Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a Cyprian by birth,

Who possessed a field, sold it and brought the sum of money and placed it at the feet of the apostles.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property

And put aside for himself some of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it. And he brought some part of it and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to deceive the  ¹Holy Spirit and to put aside for yourself some of the proceeds of the land?

While it remained,  ¹was it not your own? And when it was sold, was it not under your authority? Why is it that you have  ²contrived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to  ³God.

And when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and  ¹expired; and great fear came upon all those who heard this.

And the young men arose and wrapped him up; and carrying him out, they buried him.

And it happened that after an interval of about three hours, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

And Peter answered her, Tell me whether you have sold the land for this much? And she said, Yes, for this much.

And Peter said to her, Why is it that it was  ¹agreed between you two to test the Spirit of the  ²Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.

And she fell down instantly at his feet and expired. And the young men came in and found her dead; and carrying her out, they buried her with her husband.

And great fear came upon the whole  ¹church and upon all those who heard these things.

And through the hands of the apostles many  ¹signs and wonders took place among the people; and they were all with one accord in the portico of Solomon.

And none of the rest dared to join themselves to them, but the people magnified them.

And believers were all the more being added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

So that they even carried the sick out into the streets and placed them on cots and mats, in order that when Peter came, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

And the multitude from the cities surrounding Jerusalem also came together, carrying the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, for such ones were all being healed.

And the high priest and all those with him, the local sect of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with jealousy;

And they laid their hands on the apostles and put them in public custody.

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said,

Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the  ¹words of  ²this life.

And when they heard this, they entered about daybreak into the temple and began to teach. And the high priest and those with him came up and called together the Sanhedrin,  ¹even all the council of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent men to the prison for them to be brought.

But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported,

Saying, The prison we found locked with all security, and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened the doors, we found no one inside.

Now when they heard these words, both the  ¹captain of the temple and the chief priests were utterly perplexed concerning them as to what this would come to.

And someone came up and reported to them, Behold, the men whom you put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.

Then the captain with the officers went away and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they would be stoned.

And having brought them, they stood them in the Sanhedrin. And the high priest questioned them,

Saying, We  ¹strictly charged you not to teach based upon this name; and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

But Peter and the apostles answered and said, It is necessary to obey God rather than men.

The  ¹God of our fathers has raised Jesus, whom you slew by hanging Him on a tree.

This One God has  ¹exalted to His right hand as  ²Leader and Savior, to  ³give  ⁴repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

And we are witnesses of these  ¹things, and so is the Holy  ²Spirit, whom God has given to those who  ³obey Him.

But when they heard this, they were  ¹exasperated and intended to do away with them.

But a certain  ¹Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, stood up and commanded that they put the men outside for a little while.

And he said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, with regard to these men, in what you are about to do.

For before these days Theudas rose up, saying that he was somebody, with whom a number of men, about four hundred, took sides. And he was done away with, and all who were persuaded by him were dispersed and came to nothing.

After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the enrollment and drew away a group of people after him. And that man perished, and all who were persuaded by him were scattered.

And now I say to you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone; for should this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown;

But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you be found to be even fighters against God.

And they were persuaded by him. And having called the apostles to them, they beat them and charged them not to speak based upon the name of Jesus; and they released them.

So they went from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy  ¹to be dishonored on behalf of the Name.

And every day, in the  ¹temple and from  ²house to house, they did not cease teaching and announcing the gospel of  ³Jesus as the Christ.

And in these days, as the disciples were multiplying in number, a murmuring of the  ¹Hellenists against the  ²Hebrews occurred, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily dispensing.

And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said, It is not  ¹fitting for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.

But brothers, look for seven well-attested men from among you,  ¹full of the Spirit and of  ²wisdom, whom we will appoint over this need.

But we will continue steadfastly in  ¹prayer and in the ministry of the word.

And the word pleased all the multitude; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a  ¹proselyte of Antioch,

Whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they  ¹laid their hands on  ²them.

And the word of God  ¹grew, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly; and a large number of the priests obeyed the  ²faith.

And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great  ¹wonders and signs among the people.

But some of those of the  ¹synagogue which is called the synagogue of the  ²Libertines and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and Asia rose up and disputed with Stephen;

Yet they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

Then they instigated some men to say, We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.

And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and led him to the  ¹Sanhedrin.

And they set up false witnesses, saying, This man does not cease speaking words against this holy  ¹place and the law,

For we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will  ¹destroy this place and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.

And all those sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw his face as though it were the  ¹face of an angel.