Acts 4

1 While Peter and John were speaking [to proclaim, utter words] to the people [a group of individuals, a nation], the priests [those who serve God, spiritual leaders] and the captain [officer, magistrate] of the temple [a sacred place, the Temple in Jerusalem] guard and the Sadducees [those who reject the afterlife, a Jewish sect] came up [approached, stood near] to them, word study 2 greatly disturbed [being sore troubled, grieved] that they were teaching [instructing, proclaiming] the people [a nation, a group of individuals] and proclaiming [preaching, declaring publicly] in Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] the resurrection [a standing up again from death, revival] of the dead [lifeless, spiritually or physically]. word study 3 They seized [laid hands on, took into custody] Peter and John, and because it was [now, already] evening [eventide, late in the day], they put them in [jail, under guard, in hold] custody [keeping, ward] until the next day [tomorrow, the following day]. word study 4 But many [a large multitude] who heard [listened and understood] the message [word] believed [trusted, had faith], and the number [quantity] of men [adult males] grew [increased] to about [approximately] five thousand. word study 5 The next day [upon the morrow, on the day after] the rulers [leaders, chief magistrates], elders [respected community leaders, spiritual guides], and scribes [scholars, teachers of the law] assembled [gathered together, came together in unity] in Jerusalem [the holy city, the capital of Palestine], word study 6 along with Annas [the former high priest] the high priest [chief religious leader], Caiaphas [the current high priest], John, Alexander, and many others [as many as were of the kindred] from the high priest’s [high-priestly, related to the chief priest] family [descendants, relatives]. word study 7 They had Peter and John brought in [to stand before them, in their midst] and began to question them: “By what [divine] power [or miraculous ability] or what name [authority, character, or reputation] did you do [accomplish, perform] this [miraculous healing]?” word study 8 Then Peter [fulfilled with God’s power], filled with the Holy [set apart, dedicated to God] Spirit, said to them, “Rulers [leaders, magistrates] and elders [respected leaders, spiritual guides] of the people [a group of individuals, a nation]! word study 9 If [in the event that, as a condition] we are being examined [investigated, scrutinized] today [at this present time] about a kind [good, benevolent] service [deed, act of kindness] to a man [human being, individual] who was lame [weak, feeble, impotent], to determine [to find out, to know] how [by what means, in what way] he was healed [made whole, saved, restored to health], word study 10 then let this be known [clearly understood, fully aware] to all of you [every single one, the entire group] and to all the people [nation, community] of Israel [God’s chosen, descendants of Jacob]: It is by the name [authority, character] of Jesus [God is salvation, the Messiah] Christ [the Anointed One, Savior] of Nazareth [from the city of Nazareth], whom you [specifically, personally] crucified [put to death on a cross, executed] but whom God [the one true deity, Creator] raised [brought back to life, resurrected] from the dead [the state of being lifeless, spiritually or physically], that this man [the individual, the person] stands [is standing, has been made to stand] before you [in your presence, right now] healed [made whole, restored to health]. word study 11 This Jesus [the Messiah, Christ] is ‘the stone [a rock or stumbling block] you builders [constructors, architects] rejected [set at nought, treated with contempt], which has become [been made, transformed into] the cornerstone [head of the corner, chief stone].’ word study 12 Salvation [rescue from sin, spiritual deliverance] exists in no one else [none other, no other person], for there is no other [different, unique] name [authority, character] under heaven [the sky, the universe] given to men [humanity, people] by which [through which means] we must be saved [rescued, delivered from harm].” word study 13 When they saw [experienced, discerned] the boldness [confidence, fearlessness] of Peter [the rock, a disciple of Jesus] and John [a close companion of Jesus] and realized [perceived, understood] that they were unschooled [uneducated, without formal training], ordinary men [common, unlearned people], they marveled [were amazed, astonished] and took note [recognized, acknowledged] that these men had been with [in close association, companions of] Jesus [the Savior, God’s salvation]. word study 14 And seeing [beholding, perceiving] the man [a human] who had been healed [made whole] standing [in an upright position] there with [in close association] them, they had [possessed] nothing [no response] to say [to dispute] in response [against it, in opposition]. word study 15 So they ordered [commanded, instructed] them to leave [go away, depart from] the Sanhedrin [council, Jewish leadership] and then [after that, afterwards] conferred [pondered, discussed] together [with one another, among themselves]. word study 16 “What shall we do with these men [how can we punish them, what action should we take]?” they asked. “It is clear [obvious, evident] to everyone living in Jerusalem [all the inhabitants, the residents] that a remarkable [notable, significant] miracle [sign, wonder] has occurred [happened, been done] through them [by their means, as a result of their actions], and we cannot [are not able, it is not possible for us to] deny [refuse to acknowledge, reject] it [the truth, the fact]. word study 17 But [in order to prevent, to keep from happening] to keep this message [the gospel, the good news] from spreading [to spread, to distribute] any further [more, to a greater extent] among the people [a group of individuals, a nation], we must warn [to threaten, to put in fear] them not to speak [to utter words, to talk] to anyone [no one, nothing] in this name [the authority, the character of Jesus].” word study 18 Then they called [summoned, invited] them in again and commanded [ordered, instructed] them not to speak [utter a word, proclaim] or teach [instruct, guide] at all [entirely, in any way] in the name [authority, character] of Jesus [God’s salvation, the Christ]. word study 19 But Peter [the rock, a name given by Jesus] and John replied, “Judge [to make a decision, form an opinion] for yourselves whether it is right [just, fair, and innocent] in God’s [the one true deity] sight [presence, before] to listen [to hear and obey] to you rather than [or instead of] God [the supreme Creator]. word study 20 For [since it is impossible] we cannot [are not able] stop speaking [to utter words] about what [which things] we have seen [perceived] and [also] heard [listened].” word study 21 After further [additional, more severe] threats they let them go [released, set free]. They could not find a way [discover a means, determine a method] to punish [chastise, correct] them, because all the people [the entire crowd, every individual] were glorifying [praising, honoring] God [the one true deity] for what had happened [taken place, come to pass]. word study 22 For [as a reason, explaining why] the man [a human] who was miraculously [through a sign] healed [cured, brought to wholeness through] was over [more than] forty [a period of testing] years [a cycle of time] old [in age, having existed for a certain period]. word study 23 On their release [being let go, set free], Peter and John returned to their own people [company, fellow believers] and reported [declared, announced] everything that the chief priests [high-priests, Jewish leaders] and elders [respected leaders, community authorities] had said [spoken, uttered] to them. word study 24 When the believers [faithful followers, disciples] heard this, they lifted up their voices [cried out, prayed aloud] to God [the Supreme Being, Creator] with one accord [united, in harmony]. “Sovereign Lord [Master, Ruler of all],” they said, “You made [created, brought into existence] the heaven [the sky, the celestial realm] and the earth [the land, the material world] and the sea [the ocean, the vast waters] and everything [all things, the universe] in them [within, among]. word study 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit [through divine inspiration] through the mouth [the symbol of speech and communication] of Your servant [faithful minister], our father David [the king of Israel]: ‘Why do the nations [Gentiles, non-Jewish people] rage [become violently angry, tumultuous] and the peoples [a group of individuals, a specific nation] plot [meditate, think deeply] in vain [to no purpose, empty]? word study 26 The kings [rulers, sovereigns] of the earth [the world, soil] take their stand [assembled, prepared for war] and the rulers [leaders, magistrates] gather together [assembled, united] against the Lord [God, the supreme authority] and against His Anointed One [Christ, the Messiah, His chosen one].’ word study 27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod [a king of the Jews] and Pontius Pilate [the Roman governor] conspired [gathered together in opposition] with the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations] and the people of Israel [God’s chosen nation] against Your holy [set apart, dedicated to God] servant Jesus [the Messiah, God’s anointed one], whom You anointed [appointed, consecrated]. word study 28 They carried out [executed, performed] what Your [divine, sovereign] hand [power, instrument] and will [plan, counsel] had decided [predestined, foreordained] beforehand [before the foundation of the world] would happen [come to pass, be fulfilled]. word study 29 And now [at this present time], Lord [God, the supreme authority], consider [look upon, behold] their threats [cruel words, menacing warnings], and enable [grant, give power to] Your servants [slaves, devoted followers] to speak [utter, proclaim] Your word [message, divine truth] with complete [all, utter] boldness [freedom, confidence], word study 30 as You [with divine power and authority] stretch out Your hand [to extend and exert Your mighty arm] to heal [to cure and restore to wholeness] and perform signs [miraculous tokens and evidences] and wonders [supernatural marvels and awe-inspiring events] through the name [the character, authority, and reputation] of Your holy [set apart and consecrated] servant [faithful minister and obedient child] Jesus [God’s salvation and deliverance].” word study 31 After they had prayed [with fervent supplication, to beg for something], their meeting place [the building where they were gathered together] was shaken [violently moved, agitated], and they were all filled [completely controlled, empowered] with the Holy Spirit [the divine Breath, having God’s nature] and spoke the word [message, divine expression] of God [the supreme Deity, Creator] boldly. word study 32 The multitude [large group, crowd] of believers [those who trust in Jesus] was one [unified, in agreement] in heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions] and soul [the breath of life, the seat of emotions and desires]. No one claimed that any [anything, something] of his possessions [belongings, property] was his own [private, personal], but they shared [had in common, distributed] everything [all things, every possession] they owned [possessed, had]. word study 33 With [tremendous] great power the apostles [messengers of Jesus Christ] continued to give their testimony [witness, declaration] about the resurrection [standing up again from death] of the Lord [Master, God] Jesus [God is salvation]. And abundant [great, overflowing] grace [divine influence, favor] was upon [to, against] them all [every one of them]. word study 34 There were no needy ones [lacking or impoverished, without necessities] among them, because those who owned [were possessors of] lands [fields or places] or houses [homes or dwellings] would sell [dispose of as merchandise] their property, bring [carry or support] the proceeds [prices or values] from the sales [transactions or exchanges], word study 35 and lay them [at their feet, presenting an offering] at the apostles’ [messengers of Jesus Christ] feet for distribution [to be shared, divided among] to anyone [each person, every individual] as he had [was in a state of, experienced] need [a requirement, a necessity]. word study 36 Joseph [descendant of Levi], a Levite [a servant of God, from the tribe of Levi] from Cyprus [an island in the Mediterranean, a place of cultural exchange], whom the apostles [messengers of Jesus Christ, sent to spread the Gospel] called Barnabas [Son of Encouragement, one who comforts and exhorts] (meaning [being interpreted, translated] Son of Encouragement [comfort, solace, and exhortation]), word study 37 sold [having ownership of] a field [a plot of land] he owned [being in possession of], brought [to bear or lead] the money [wealth or riches], and laid [to place] it at the apostles’ [messengers of Jesus Christ] feet [a symbol of humility]. word study