1 As they were speaking to the [crowd of] people, the [Jewish] priests, the captain of the Temple [guard] and the Sadducees [i.e., a sect of the Jewish religion] approached them
2 and were greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that Jesus had been raised from the dead.
3 So, these [Jewish] leaders arrested Peter and John and put them in jail until the next day because it was [already] evening.
4 But many of the people who heard the message [of God] believed [in Jesus] and the number of men [alone] came to be about five thousand.
5 And the next day the [Jewish] rulers, elders and teachers of the law of Moses gathered together in Jerusalem.
6 [They were]: Annas, the head priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the head priest's family [members].
7 And when these men had Peter and John brought before them, they asked, "By whose authority or in what name have you done this thing [i.e., healed the crippled man]?"
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, addressed them, saying, "Rulers and elders of the people,
9 if we are being questioned today concerning how this man with a serious handicap was made completely well,
10 we want you men and all the people of Israel to know that this man was made completely well through the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. [He is the One] whom you people put to death on the cross, but God raised from the dead.
11 He is that [Psa. 118:22], 'stone that was rejected by you builders but was made the principal stone by which the entire building is aligned.'
12 And there is salvation in no other One [than Jesus] for there is no other Name in the whole world, proclaimed by men, by which [a person] can be saved."
13 Now when these men saw how boldly Peter and John spoke, and perceived that they were uneducated and [even] ignorant men, they were quite surprised; then they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
14 And when they saw the healed man standing there with Peter and John, there was nothing they could say [to refute the obvious miracle].
15 But when the Council [of Jewish leaders] made Peter and John leave [the meeting], they discussed the matter among themselves,
16 saying, "What should we do to these men? For we cannot deny that a significant miracle was performed by them, and everybody living in Jerusalem knows it.
17 But we do not want this [teaching] to spread any further so let us threaten them [and demand] that they do not speak to anyone about Jesus anymore."
18 And so they called Peter and John in and warned them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus [anymore].
19 But Peter and John replied, "You decide whether it is right before God to listen to you men or to Him;
20 we cannot help but speak about the things we have seen and heard."
21 And when the Council had threatened them some more, they [finally] released them because they could not find any reason to punish them. [Actually] they were worried about how the people felt [about the matter], since everybody was giving honor to God for the miracle that had been performed.
22 Now the man who was healed was over forty years old.
23 So, after Peter and John were released, they went [back to the other disciples] and reported everything the leading priests and elders [of the Jews] had said to them.
24 And when the disciples heard this report they united their voices to God in prayer [saying]: "O, Lord, You made the heaven, the earth, the sea and everything in them.
25 [You] said, through the Holy Spirit and by means of [the inspired writings of] our forefather David, your servant, [Psa. 2:1-2], 'Why did the [unconverted] Gentiles rage [at the Messiah], and the people [of Israel] devise useless plans [for opposing Christ]?
26 The kings of the earth [i.e., Herod and Pilate] took their stand [against Jesus], and the rulers [of the Jews] gathered against the Lord and against His Anointed One [i.e., Christ].'
27 For [truly] it was both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, who gathered together in this city [of Jerusalem] against your Holy Servant Jesus
28 to do what your plan and wisdom predetermined should happen.
29 So, now Lord, take account of the threats [of these Jewish leaders] and give your servants all the boldness [we need] to speak your message,
30 while you perform [miraculous] healings and signs and wonders through the name [i.e., by the authority] of your Holy Servant Jesus."
31 And after they had prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and these disciples were all filled with [the power of] the Holy Spirit and they were able to speak the message of God with boldness.
32 So, the large number of believers were united in heart and soul [i.e., mind and spirit] and not one of them said that anything he owned [really] belonged to him, but they shared all things in common.
33 And the apostles testified concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and the favor [of God] was upon all of them.
34 And no one lacked anything, for all who owned property or houses sold [some of] them and brought the money
35 and gave it to the apostles, who distributed it to each person who had a need.
36 And Joseph, who was called by the apostles, Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"), was a descendant of the Jewish tribe of Levi, whose family originated from [the island of] Cyprus.
37 He owned a field, but [due to the great need] sold it and brought the money and gave it to the apostles [for distribution].