Peter and John before the Sanhedrin 2 UDB These men were very angry because the two apostles were teaching the people about Jesus. What they were telling them was that God caused Jesus to become alive again after he had been killed. BSB BSB: greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
3 UDB So these men arrested Peter and John and put them in jail. The Jewish council had to wait until the next day to question Peter and John because it was already evening. BSB BSB: They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.
4 UDB However, many people who had heard Peter speak put their faith in Jesus. The number of men who believed in Jesus increased to about five thousand. BSB BSB: But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
5 UDB The next day the high priest called the other chief priests, the teachers of the Jewish laws, and the other members of the Jewish council, and they gathered together in one place in Jerusalem. BSB BSB: The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,
6 UDB Annas, the former high priest, was there. Also there were Caiaphas the new high priest, John and Alexander, and other men who were related to the high priest. BSB BSB: along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family.
7 UDB They commanded guards to bring Peter and John into the room, and then they asked Peter and John, "Who gave you power to heal the man that could not walk?" BSB BSB: They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 UDB As the Holy Spirit gave Peter power, Peter said to them, "You rulers of the people of Israel, and all of you who are elders, listen to me! BSB BSB: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
9 UDB Today you are questioning us about a good deed we did for a man who could not walk, and you ask us how he became healed. BSB BSB: If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,
10 UDB It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that this man was healed, so that he is now able to stand before you. It was you who nailed Jesus to a cross and killed him, but God caused him to become alive again. BSB BSB: then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
11 UDB "Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the one of whom the scriptures speak: 'The stone that the builders threw away has become the most important stone in the building.' BSB BSB: This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
The Name Forbidden 13 UDB The Jewish leaders realized that Peter and John were not afraid of them. They also learned that these two men were ordinary people who had not studied in schools. So the leaders were amazed. They knew that these men had spent time with Jesus. BSB BSB: When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
14 UDB They also saw the man who had been healed standing there with Peter and John, so they were not able to say anything against them. BSB BSB: And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response.
15 UDB The Jewish leaders told guards to take Peter, John, and the healed man outside of the room where they were meeting. After they did so, the leaders talked with each other about Peter and John. BSB BSB: So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.
16 UDB They said, "There is nothing that we can do to punish these two men! Everyone who is living in Jerusalem knows that they have done an amazing miracle, so we cannot tell people that it did not happen! BSB BSB: “What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.
17 UDB However, we must not allow other people to hear what they have been teaching about this Jesus. So we must tell these men that we will punish them if they continue to tell other people about the one who they say gave them the power to heal this man." BSB BSB: But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”
18 UDB So the Jewish leaders told the guards to bring the two apostles into the room again. After the guards had done so, they told them both that they should no longer speak or teach about Jesus to anyone. BSB BSB: Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 UDB But Peter and John said, "Would God think that it is right for us to obey you and not to obey him? We will let you decide what you think is right. BSB BSB: But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.
20 UDB But as for us, we cannot obey you. We will not stop telling people about the things that we have seen Jesus do and what we have heard him teach." BSB BSB: For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 UDB Then the Jewish leaders again told Peter and John not to disobey them, but they decided not to punish them, because all the people in Jerusalem were praising God about what had happened to the man who could not walk. BSB BSB: After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.
22 UDB He was more than forty years old, and he was not able to walk since the day that he was born. BSB BSB: For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
The Believers’ Prayer (Psalm 2:1–12)
23 UDB After Peter and John left the council, they went to the other believers and told them everything that the chief priests and Jewish elders had said to them. BSB BSB: On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 UDB When the believers heard this, they all agreed as they prayed to God together, "O Lord! You made the sky, the earth and the oceans, and everything in them. BSB BSB: When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
25 UDB The Holy Spirit caused our ancestor King David, who served you, to write these words: 'Why did the nations of the world become angry and why do people make their foolish plans? BSB BSB: You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
26 UDB The kings in the world prepared to fight God's Ruler, and the rulers joined with them to fight against the Lord and the one that he Anointed.' BSB BSB: The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’
28 UDB You allowed them to do this because it was what you decided long ago would happen. BSB BSB: They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.
29 UDB "So now, Lord, listen to what they are saying about how they will punish us! Help us who serve you to speak about Jesus to everyone! BSB BSB: And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,
30 UDB Use your power to do great miracles of healing, signs, and wonders in the name of your holy servant Jesus!" BSB BSB: as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
31 UDB When the believers had finished praying, the place where they were meeting shook. The Holy Spirit gave them all power to boldly speak the words that God told them to speak, and this is what they did. BSB BSB: After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Sharing among Believers (Acts 2:42–47)
33 UDB The apostles continued to strongly tell others that God had caused the Lord Jesus to become alive again. And God was helping all the believers very much. BSB BSB: With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.
34 UDB Some of the believers who owned land or houses sold their property. Then they would bring the money from what they sold and they would give it to the apostles. Then the apostles would give money to any believer who needed it. So all the believers had what they needed to live on. BSB BSB: There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales,
37 UDB He sold a field and brought the money to the apostles for them to give to other believers. BSB BSB: sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.