The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (133 page)

Peter and John before the Council

4
  
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and
the captain
of the temple and the Sad'ducees came upon them,
²
annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 
*
³
And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was
already evening
.
⁴
But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to about
five thousand
.

5
 On the next day their
rulers and elders and scribes
were gathered together in Jerusalem,
⁶
with
Annas the high priest
and Cai'aphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
⁷
And when they had set them in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"
⁸
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,
⁹
if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed,
¹⁰
be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.
¹¹
This is the stone
which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the cornerstone.
¹²
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is
no other name
under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

13
 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were
uneducated
, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
¹⁴
But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
¹⁵
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another,
¹⁶
saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and
we cannot deny it
.
¹⁷
But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name."
¹⁸
So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
¹⁹
But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;
²⁰
for
we cannot but speak
of what we have seen and heard."
²¹
And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened.
²²
For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23
 When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
²⁴
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
²⁵
who
by the mouth
of our father David, your servant,
^c
said by the Holy Spirit,

  
'Why did the Gentiles rage,

  
and the peoples imagine vain things?

²⁶
The kings of the earth set themselves in array,

  
and the rulers were gathered together,

  
against the Lord and against his Anointed'—
^e

²⁷
for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant
^c
Jesus,
whom you anointed
, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
²⁸
to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
²⁹
And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants
^f
to speak your word
with all boldness
,
³⁰
while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant
^c
Jesus."
³¹
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit
and spoke the word of God with boldness.

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32
 Now
the company
of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. 
*
³³
And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
³⁴
There was not any one needy among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold
³⁵
and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need.
³⁶
Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles
Barnabas
(which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
³⁷
sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Ananias and Sapphira

5
  
But
a man named Anani'as
with his wife Sapphi'ra sold a piece of property,
²
and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
³
But Peter said, "Anani'as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?
⁴
While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not
at your disposal
? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
⁵
When Anani'as heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
⁶
The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

7
 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
⁸
And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."
⁹
But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
¹⁰
Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
¹¹
And great fear came upon the whole
Church
, 
*
and upon all who heard of these things.

The Apostles Heal Many

12
 Now many
signs and wonders
were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.
¹³
None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor.
¹⁴
And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of
men and women
,
¹⁵
so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by
at least his shadow
might fall on some of them.
¹⁶
The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

The Apostles Are Imprisoned andBrought before the Council

17
 But
the high priest
rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sad'ducees, and filled with jealousy
¹⁸
they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison.
¹⁹
But at night an
angel of the Lord
opened the prison doors and brought them out and said,
²⁰
"Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life." 
*
²¹
And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught.

Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called together
the council
and all the senate of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
²²
But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported,
²³
"We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside."
²⁴
Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
²⁵
And some one came and told them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."
²⁶
Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27
 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,
²⁸
saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man's
blood upon us
."
²⁹
But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must
obey God rather than men
.
³⁰
The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him
on a tree
.
³¹
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
³²
And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

33
 When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
³⁴
But a Pharisee in the council named
Gama'li-el
, 
*
a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while.
³⁵
And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you do with these men.
³⁶
For before these days
Theu'das
arose, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
³⁷
After him
Judas the Galilean
arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
³⁸
So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail;
³⁹
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"

40
 So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
⁴¹
Then they left the presence of the council,
rejoicing
that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
⁴²
And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Seven Chosen to Serve

6
  
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number,
the Hellenists
 
*
murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
²
And the Twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
³
Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you
seven men
of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.
⁴
But we will
devote ourselves
to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
⁵
And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a proselyte of Antioch.
⁶
These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and
laid their hands
upon them.