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Acts 4:1-31 (NIRV)

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¹ Peter and John were speaking to the people. The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to the apostles. ² They were very upset by what the apostles were teaching the people. The apostles were saying that because Jesus rose from the dead, people can be raised from the dead. ³ So the temple authorities arrested Peter and John. It was already evening, so they put them in prison until the next day. ⁴ But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about 5,000. ⁵ The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas, the high priest, was there. So were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others in the high priest's family. ⁷ They had Peter and John brought to them. They wanted to question them. "By what power did you do this?" they asked. "And through whose name?" ⁸ Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹ Are you asking us to explain our actions today? Do you want to know why we were kind to a disabled man? Are you asking how he was healed? ¹⁰ Then listen to this, you and all the people of Israel! You nailed Jesus Christ of Nazareth to the cross. But God raised him from the dead. It is through Jesus' name that this man stands healed in front of you. ^{11 12} You can't be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given us no other name under heaven that will save us." ¹³ The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders. They realized that these men had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ The leaders could see the man who had been healed standing there with them. So there was nothing they could say. ¹⁵ They ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over. ¹⁶ "What can we do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle. We can't say it didn't happen. ¹⁷ We have to stop this thing. It must not spread any further among the people. We have to warn these men. They must never speak to anyone in Jesus' name again." ¹⁸ Once again the leaders called in Peter and John. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus' name. ¹⁹ But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves. Which is right from God's point of view? Should we obey you? Or God? ²⁰ There's nothing else we can do. We have to speak about the things we've seen and heard." ²¹ The leaders warned them again. Then they let them go. They couldn't decide how to punish Peter and John. They knew that all the people were praising God for what had happened. ²² The man who had been healed by the miracle was over 40 years old. ²³ Peter and John were allowed to leave. They went back to their own people. They reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When the believers heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Lord and King," they said, "you made the heavens, the earth and the sea. You made everything in them. ²⁵ Long ago you spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, who served you. You said, " 'Why are the nations angry? Why do the people make useless plans? ^{26 27} "In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with those who weren't Jews. They also met with the people of Israel. All of them made plans against your holy servant Jesus. He is the one you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and purpose had already decided should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider the bad things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak your word. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal. Do miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." ³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were bold when they spoke God's word.


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 11) Salvation / Eternal Life - Salvation is found no one else
(v. 12) Salvation / Eternal Life - Salvation is found no one else
(v. 18) Evangelism - Peter and John - Can not stop speaking about Jesus
(v. 19) Obedience - Peter / John - refusing to obey men, rather than God
(v. 19) Pleasing God - Please God rather than man
(v. 19) Evangelism - Peter and John - Can not stop speaking about Jesus
(v. 19) Courage - Peter / John - refusing to obey men, rather than God
(v. 20) Evangelism - Peter and John - Can not stop speaking about Jesus
(v. 20) Pleasing God - Please God rather than man
(v. 31) Prayer - Place was shaken after prayer

This passage relates to the following question(s):
(v. 26) Did God put all rulers in power? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 2) Waking Dead - New Heart (2010-08-22)
(v. 4) Powerful Testimony (2015-02-27)
(v. 12) Knowing Jesus (part II) (2010-12-15)
(v. 12) Life to the Full - Personal Life of Peter (part 1) (2010-04-16)
(v. 13) Day 21 - Rejoice in Persecutions (2011-12-24)
(v. 13) Mission - Cannot Help Proclaiming (part I) (2010-12-07)
(v. 13) Life to the Full - Personal Life of Peter (part 1) (2010-04-16)
(v. 14) Day 21 - Rejoice in Persecutions (2011-12-24)
(v. 15) Day 21 - Rejoice in Persecutions (2011-12-24)
(v. 16) Day 21 - Rejoice in Persecutions (2011-12-24)
(v. 17) Day 21 - Rejoice in Persecutions (2011-12-24)
(v. 18) Day 21 - Rejoice in Persecutions (2011-12-24)
(v. 19) Day 21 - Rejoice in Persecutions (2011-12-24)
(v. 20) Day 21 - Rejoice in Persecutions (2011-12-24)
(v. 20) Mission - Cannot Help Proclaiming (part I) (2010-12-07)
(v. 20) Reporting (2015-04-10)
(v. 21) Day 21 - Rejoice in Persecutions (2011-12-24)
(v. 22) Day 21 - Rejoice in Persecutions (2011-12-24)
(v. 24) Teach Us To Pray - Unity with Others (2008-09-11)
(v. 24) Teach Us To Pray - Enemies and Opposition (2008-09-22)
(v. 25) Teach Us To Pray - Enemies and Opposition (2008-09-22)
(v. 26) Teach Us To Pray - Enemies and Opposition (2008-09-22)
(v. 27) Teach Us To Pray - Enemies and Opposition (2008-09-22)
(v. 28) Teach Us To Pray - Enemies and Opposition (2008-09-22)
(v. 29) Followup - Evangelism Boldness (2011-01-16)
(v. 29) Teach Us To Pray - Enemies and Opposition (2008-09-22)
(v. 30) Followup - Evangelism Boldness (2011-01-16)
(v. 31) Followup - Evangelism Boldness (2011-01-16)

This passage is referenced in the following study note(s):
(v. 13) Devotional: Courage (2008-12-12)
(v. 13) Devotional: Inspirational Power (2008-12-12)
(v. 18) Devotional: Focus on your Purpose (2008-12-12)
(v. 19) Devotional: Focus on your Purpose (2008-12-12)
(v. 20) Devotional: Focus on your Purpose (2008-12-12)
(v. 27) Devotional: Persecution and Opposition (2008-12-12)
(v. 28) Devotional: Persecution and Opposition (2008-12-12)
(v. 29) Devotional: Focus on your Purpose (2008-12-12)
(v. 29) Devotional: Persecution and Opposition (2008-12-12)
(v. 30) Devotional: Focus on your Purpose (2008-12-12)
(v. 31) Devotional: Focus on your Purpose (2008-12-12)

Definition(s):
Alexander (Al-ex-and-er): one who assists men
Herod (Her-od): son of a hero
Jerusalem (Je-roo-sa-lem): vision of peace
Jesus (Jeez-us): savior; deliverer
Nazareth (Naz-ar-eth): separated; crowned; sanctified
Pilate (Pie-lat): armed with a dart
Pontius (Pon-shus): marine; belonging to the sea
Sadducees (Sad-you-sees): followers of Sadoc, or Zadok
So (Soh):