Acts 4:20-37

20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.

22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers Pray

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

25 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 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.^[a] ’^[b]

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all

34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”),

37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

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Images for Acts 4:20-37

Cross References 28

1. Job 32:18; Jeremiah 20:9; Amos 3:8
2. S Luke 24:48
3. Acts 5:26
4. S Matthew 9:8
5. S Acts 1:14
6. Nehemiah 9:6; Job 41:11; Isaiah 37:16
7. Acts 1:16
8. Psalms 2:1,2; Daniel 9:25; Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38; Hebrews 1:9
9. S Matthew 14:1
10. S Matthew 27:2; Luke 23:12
11. ver 30; Acts 3:13,14
12. Acts 2:23
13. ver 13,31; Psalms 138:3; Acts 9:27; Acts 13:46; Acts 14:3; Acts 28:31; Ephesians 6:19; Philippians 1:14
14. S John 4:48
15. ver 27
16. Acts 2:2
17. S Luke 1:15
18. S Hebrews 4:12
19. S ver 29
20. Acts 2:44
21. S Luke 24:48
22. Acts 1:22
23. S Romans 3:24
24. Matthew 19:21; Acts 2:45
25. ver 37; Acts 5:2
26. Acts 2:45; Acts 6:1
27. Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22,30; Acts 13:2; 1 Corinthians 9:6; Gal 2:1,9,13
28. ver 35; Acts 5:2

Footnotes 2

[a]. That is, Messiah or Christ
[b]. Psalm 2:1,2