Peter and John before the Sanhedrin

1While they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2being vexed because they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in prison till the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard the word, believed: and the number of the men was about five thousand.

5And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers and elders and scribes, 6and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the chief priest, met together in Jerusalem. 7And when they had made them stand in the midst, they asked: By what power, or by what name have you done this? 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9if we are this day examined with respect unto the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he has been saved, 10be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him does this man stand before you in health. 11This is the stone that was rejected with contempt by you builders, which has become the head of the corner. 12And there is salvation in no other; nor, indeed, is there another name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.

The Name Forbidden

13Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and plain men, they were astonished; and they also recognized them, that they had been with Jesus; 14and, seeing the man who had been cured standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15But, having commanded them to go aside out of the Sanhedrin, they consulted with one another, 16saying: What shall we do with these men? For that an evident sign has been done by them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem, and we can not deny it. 17But that it may spread no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, so that they speak no more to any man in this name. 18And they called them in, and commanded them to speak no more at all, nor to teach, in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answering them, said: Whether it is right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God, judge you. 20For we can not but speak the things that we have seen and heard. 21And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing for which they could punish them, because of the people; for they all glorified God on account of that which had been done; 22for the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers’ Prayer

23And having been released, they went to their own, and told all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24And when they heard it, they lifted up their voice with one consent to God, and said: Lord, thou art God, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all things that are in them; who, by the mouth of David thy servant, didst say,

25Why did the heathen rage, and the people devise vain things?

26The kings of the land stood up, and the rulers met together against the Lord and against his anointed.

27For, in truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, did meet together, 28to do whatever thy hand and thy counsel determined to be done. 29And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and grant to thy servants that they may speak thy word with all boldness, 30by stretching out thy hand to heal, that both signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness.

Sharing among Believers
(Acts 2:42–47)

32And the multitude of believers were of one heart and of one soul; and no one said that any part of his possessions was his own; but they had all things in common. 33And with great power did the apostles bear testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. 34Nor, indeed, was there any needy person among them; for as many as were owners of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the prices of what had been sold, 35and laid them down at the feet of the apostles; and distribution was made to every one as he had need.

36And Joses, who, by the apostles, was surnamed Barnabas, (which name, when translated, is, Son of consolation,) a Levite, by birth a Cyprian, 37having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.