Acts 3 - 4
The Lame Beggar Healed
3Now aPeter and John were going up to the temple at the 1ninth hour, bthe hour of prayer. 2And aa man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they bused to set down daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, cin order to beg 1alms of those who were entering the temple. 3When he saw aPeter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4But when Peter, along with John, afixed his gaze on him, he said, “Look at us!” 5And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: aIn the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” 7And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8aAnd leaping up, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9And aall the people saw him walking and praising God; 10and they were recognizing him, that he was the one who used to asit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter’s Sermon in Solomon’s Portico
11And while he was clinging to aPeter and John, all the people ran together to them at the 1,bportico called Solomon’s, full of wonder. 12But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13“aThe God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, bthe God of our fathers, has glorified His cServant Jesus, whom dyou delivered and denied in the presence of ePilate, when he had fdecided to release Him. 14“But you denied athe Holy and Righteous One and basked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15but put to death the aAuthor of life, whom bGod raised from the dead, a fact to which we are cwitnesses. 16“And on the basis of faith ain His name, it is 1the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17“And now, brothers, I know that you acted ain ignorance, just as your brulers did also. 18“But the things which aGod announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, bthat His 1Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19“Therefore arepent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that 1,btimes of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20and that He may send Jesus, the 1Christ appointed for you, 21awhom heaven must receive until the 1period of brestoration of all things about which cGod spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22“Moses said, ‘aThe 1Lord God will raise up for you a prophet 2like me from your brothers; to Him you shall listen to everything He says to you. 23‘aAnd it will be that every bsoul that does not heed that prophet cshall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24“And likewise, aall the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also proclaimed these days. 25“It is you who are athe sons of the prophets and of the bcovenant which God 1made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘cAnd in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26“For you afirst, God braised up His 1Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
Peter and John Arrested
4Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests and athe captain of the temple guard and bthe Sadducees ccame up to them, 2being greatly agitated because they were teaching the people and proclaiming 1,ain Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them and aput them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who had heard the 1message believed, and athe number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5Now it happened that on the next day, their arulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6and aAnnas the high priest was there, and bCaiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7And when they had placed them in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8Then Peter, 1,afilled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “2,bRulers and elders of the people, 9if we are 1being examined today for aa good deed done to a sick man, 2as to how this man has been 3saved from his sickness, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that 1,aby the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom bGod raised from the dead—2by 3this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11“1,aHe is the bstone which was crejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12“And there is salvation in ano one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Peter and John Threatened and Released
13Now as they observed the aconfidence of bPeter and John and comprehended that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were marveling, and cbegan to recognize them 1as having been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15But when they had ordered them to leave the 1,aSanhedrin, they began to confer with one another, 16saying, “aWhat should we do with these men? For the fact that a bnoteworthy 1sign has happened through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17“But lest it spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man ain this name.” 18And when they had summoned them, they acommanded them not to speak or teach at all 1in the name of Jesus. 19But aPeter and John answered and said to them, “bWhether it is right in the sight of God to hear you rather than God, you be the judge; 20for awe cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) aon account of the people, because they were all bglorifying God for what had happened; 22for the man was more than forty years old on whom this sign of healing had occurred.
23So when they were released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Master, it is You who amade the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25who aby the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘bWhy did the 1Gentiles rage,And the peoples devise vain things?
26‘aThe kings of the earth 1took their stand,And the rulers were gathered togetherAgainst the Lord and against His 2,bChrist.’27“For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy 1,aServant Jesus, whom You anointed, both bHerod and cPontius Pilate, along with dthe 2Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28to do whatever Your hand and aYour purpose predestined to occur. 29“And 1now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your slaves may aspeak Your word with all bconfidence, 30while You extend Your hand to heal, and 1,asigns and wonders happen through the name of Your holy 2,bServant Jesus.” 31And when they had prayed earnestly, the aplace where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all bfilled with the Holy Spirit and began to cspeak the word of God with dconfidence.
Distribution Among Needy Believers
32And the 1congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one was saying that any of his possessions was his own, but, for them, aeverything was common. 33And awith great power the apostles were bearing bwitness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses awould sell them and bring the 1proceeds of the sales 35and alay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be bdistributed to each as any had need.