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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Acts 4 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/acts/4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/acts/4-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Acts 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../acts/3.htm" title="Acts 3">◄</a> Acts 4 <a href="../acts/5.htm" title="Acts 5">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">Peter and John Are Brought in Front of the Council</h3><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_1"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.1" class="v44_4_1">1</span>The apostles were still talking to the people, when some priests, the captain of the temple guard, and some Sadducees arrived. </span><span class="v44_4_2"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.2" class="v44_4_2">2</span>These men were angry because the apostles were teaching the people that the dead would be raised from death, just as Jesus had been raised from death. </span><span class="v44_4_3"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.3" class="v44_4_3">3</span>It was already late in the afternoon, and they arrested Peter and John and put them in jail for the night. </span><span class="v44_4_4"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.4" class="v44_4_4">4</span>But a lot of people who had heard the message believed it. So by now there were about 5,000 followers of the Lord.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_5"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.5" class="v44_4_5">5</span>The next morning the leaders, the elders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses met in Jerusalem. </span><span class="v44_4_6"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.6" class="v44_4_6">6</span>The high priest Annas was there, as well as Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other members of the high priest's family. </span><span class="v44_4_7"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.7" class="v44_4_7">7</span>They brought in Peter and John and made them stand in the middle while they questioned them. They asked, “By what power and in whose name have you done this?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_8"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.8" class="v44_4_8">8</span>Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and told the nation's leaders and the elders:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_4_9"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.9" class="v44_4_9">9</span>You are questioning us today about a kind deed in which a man who could not walk was healed. </span><span class="v44_4_10"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.10" class="v44_4_10">10</span>But there is something we must tell you and everyone else in Israel. This man is standing here completely well because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You put Jesus to death on a cross, but God raised him to life. </span><span class="v44_4_11"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.11" class="v44_4_11">11</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.4.11!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> He is the stone you builders thought was worthless, and now he is the most important stone of all. </span><span class="v44_4_12"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.12" class="v44_4_12">12</span>Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_13"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.13" class="v44_4_13">13</span>The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men and not well educated. The officials were certain these men had been with Jesus. </span><span class="v44_4_14"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.14" class="v44_4_14">14</span>But they could not deny what had happened. The man who had been healed was standing there with the apostles.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_15"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.15" class="v44_4_15">15</span>The officials commanded them to leave the council room. Then the officials said to each other, </span><span class="v44_4_16"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.16" class="v44_4_16">16</span>“What can we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about this miracle, and we cannot say it didn't happen. </span><span class="v44_4_17"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.17" class="v44_4_17">17</span>But to keep this thing from spreading, we will warn them never again to speak to anyone about the name of Jesus.” </span><span class="v44_4_18"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.18" class="v44_4_18">18</span>So they called the two apostles back in and told them they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_19"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.19" class="v44_4_19">19</span>Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? </span><span class="v44_4_20"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.20" class="v44_4_20">20</span>We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_21"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.21-Acts.4.22" class="v44_4_21">21-22</span>The officials could not find any reason to punish Peter and John. So they threatened them and let them go. The man who was healed by this miracle was more than 40 years old, and everyone was praising God for what had happened.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Peter and Others Pray for Courage</h3><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_23"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.23" class="v44_4_23">23</span>As soon as Peter and John had been set free, they went back and told the others everything the chief priests and the leaders had said to them. </span><span class="v44_4_24"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.24" class="v44_4_24">24</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.4.24!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> When the rest of the Lord's followers heard this, they prayed together and said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_4_24">Master, you created heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. </span><span class="v44_4_25"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.25" class="v44_4_25">25</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.4.25!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> And by the Holy Spirit you spoke to our ancestor David. He was your servant, and you told him to say:</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_4_25">“Why are all the Gentiles</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_4_25">so furious?</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_4_25">Why do people</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_4_25">make foolish plans?</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_4_26"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.26" class="v44_4_26">26</span>The kings of earth</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_4_26">prepare for war,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_4_26">and the rulers</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_4_26">join together</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_4_26">against the Lord</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_4_26">and his Messiah.”</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_4_27"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.27" class="v44_4_27">27</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.4.27!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Here in Jerusalem, Herod<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.4.27!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and Pontius Pilate got together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel. Then they turned against your holy Servant<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.4.27!f.3" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Jesus, your chosen Messiah. </span><span class="v44_4_28"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.28" class="v44_4_28">28</span>They did what you in your power and wisdom had already decided would happen.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_4_29"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.29" class="v44_4_29">29</span>Lord, listen to their threats! We are your servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message. </span><span class="v44_4_30"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.30" class="v44_4_30">30</span>Show your mighty power, as we heal people and work miracles and wonders in the name of your holy Servant<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.4.30!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Jesus.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_31"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.31" class="v44_4_31">31</span>After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God's message.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Sharing Possessions</h3><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_32"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.32" class="v44_4_32">32</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.4.32!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The group of followers all felt the same way about everything. None of them claimed that their possessions were their own, and they shared everything they had with each other. </span><span class="v44_4_33"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.33" class="v44_4_33">33</span>In a powerful way the apostles told everyone that the Lord Jesus was now alive. God greatly blessed his followers,<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.4.33!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v44_4_34"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.34" class="v44_4_34">34</span>and no one went in need of anything. Everyone who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money </span><span class="v44_4_35"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.35" class="v44_4_35">35</span>to the apostles. Then they would give the money to anyone in need.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_4_36"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.4.36-Acts.4.37" class="v44_4_36">36-37</span>Joseph was one of the followers who had sold a piece of property and brought the money to the apostles. He was a Levite from Cyprus, and the apostles called him Barnabas, which means “one who encourages others.”</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">4.27 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Herod: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">4.27 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Servant: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 3.13.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">4.30 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Servant: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 3.13.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">4.33 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">God greatly blessed his followers: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “Everyone highly respected his followers.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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