1 Tiem uz ļaudīm runājot, pienāca priesteri, svētnīcas sardzes priekšnieks un saduķēji,
2 Sadusmoti par to, ka viņi ļaudis mācīja un sludināja Jēzū augšāmcelšanos no mirušiem.
3 Tie satvēra viņus un turēja apcietinājumā līdz rītam; jo bija jau vakars.
4 Bet daudz ļaužu, kas šos vārdus bija dzirdējuši, ticēja, un viņu skaits bija ap pieci tūkstoši vīru.
5 Nākošajā dienā sapulcējās viņu vadoņi, vecaji un rakstu mācītāji Jeruzālemē,
6 Tāpat augstais priesteris Anna un Kajafa, Jānis, Aleksandrs un visi, kas bija no augsto priesteru cilts.
7 Un viņus savā vidū nostatījuši, pratināja: „Kādā spēkā vai kādā vārdā jūs to esat darījuši?“
8 Tad Pēteris, Svēta Gara pilns, tiem sacīja: „Tautas vadoņi un vecaji,
9 Ja mūs šodien pratina laba darba dēl, ar ko šis neveselais cilvēks ir dziedināts,
10 Tad lai jums visiem un visai Israēla tautai ir zināms, ka šis stāv vesels jūsu priekšā nacarieša Jēzus Kristus vārdā, ko jūs esat situši krustā, bet ko Dievs uzmodinājis no mirušiem.
11 Šis ir akmens, ko jūs, nama cēlēji, esat atmetuši un kas kļuvis par stāja akmeni.
12 Nav pestīšanas nevienā citā; jo nav neviens cits vārds zem debess cilvēkiem dots, kurā mums lemta pestīšana.“
13 Kad viņi redzēja Pētera un Jāņa drošsirdību un noprata, ka tie ir nemācīti un vienkārši cilvēki, viņi brīnījās; viņi arī uzzināja, ka tie bijuši kopā ar Jēzu,
14 Un, redzot izdziedināto cilvēku pie tiem stāvam, viņiem nebija nekā ko pretim teikt.
15 Pavēlējuši tiem atstāt sinedriju, viņi apspriedās savā starpā, sacīdami:
16 „Ko lai darām ar šiem cilvēkiem? Jo, ka tiešām brīnums caur tiem noticis, tas visiem ir zināms kas Jeruzalemē dzīvo, un mēs to nevaram noliegt;
17 Bet lai tas laužu starpā tālāk neizpaužas, mēs tiem stingri piekodi-nāsim nerimāt vairs šinī vārdā ne ar vienu cilvēku.“
18 Tos ieaicinājuši, viņi tiem pavēlēja nemaz vairs nerunāt nedz mācīt Jēzus vārdā.
19 Bet Pēteris un Jānis, tiem atbildēdami, sacīja: „Spriediet paši, vai ir taisnīgi Dieva priekšā jums vairāk klausīt nekā Dievam;
20 Jo mēs nevaram nerunāt par to, ko esam redzējuši un dzirdējuši.“
21 Tiem vēlreiz piedraudējuši, viņi tos atlaida, nevarēdami izdomāt, kā tos sodit, ļaužu dēļ, jo visi teica Dievu par to, kas bija noticis,
22 Jo šis cilvēks, kam dziedināšanas brīnums bija noticis, bija vairāk kā četrdesmit gadu vecs.
23 Atbrīvoti tie nāca pie savējiem un stāstīja, ko augstie priesteri un vecaji tiem bija sacījuši.
24 To dzirdējuši, viņi vienprātīgi lūdza Dievu, sacīdami: „Kungs, tu, kas esi radījis debesis un zemi, un jūfu un visu, kas tanī,
25 Kas ar sava kalpa, mūsu tēva Dāvida, muti caur Svēto Garu esi sacījis: Kāpēc pagāni trako un ļaudis izdomā nelietības?
26 Zemes ķēniņi sacēlušies un valdnieki apvienojušies pret to Kungu un viņa Svaidīto.
27 Jo, patiesi, Hērods un Poncijs Pilāts līdz ar pagāniem un Israēla ļaudim šinī pilsētā apvienojušies pret tavu svēto kalpu Jēzu, ko tu esi svaidījis,
28 Lai darītu to, ko tava roka un tavs padoms iepriekš bija nolēmis, ka tam 1 bija jānotiek.
29 Tad nu. Kungs, skaries uz vīnu draudiem un dod saviem kalpiem drosmi runāt tavu vārdu,
30 Savu roku izstiepdams, ka notiek dziedināšanas un zīmes un brīnumi tava svētā kalpa Jēzus vārdā.“
31 Kad viņi beidza Dievu lūgt, vieta, kur tie bija sapulcējušies, nodrebēja, un tie visi kļuva Svēta Gara pilni un drošu sirdi runāja Dieva vārdus.
32 Ticīgo pulks bija viena sirds un viena dvēsele, neviens neko no savas mantas nesauca par savu, bet viņiem viss bija kopīgs.
33 Apustuļi ar lielu spēku apliecināja Kunga Jēzus augšāmcelšanos, un liela žēlastība bija ar viņiem visiem.
34 Viņu starpā ari nebija neviena, kam kā trūktu; jo tie, kam bija tīrumi vai nami, tos pārdeva un atnesa maksu par pārdoto
35 Un nolika apustuļiem pie kājām; un katram tika izdalīts, kā kuj-am vajadzēja.
36 Arī Jāzeps, ko apustuļi sauca par Barnabu—kas tulkojumā nozīmē iepriecināšanas dēls, —Ievīts, dzimis kipnetis,
37 Pārdeva tīrumu, kas viņam piederēja, atnesa naudu un nolika to pie apustuļu kājām.
Peter and John Are Brought in Front of the Council
1 The apostles were still talking to the people, when some priests, the captain of the temple guard, and some Sadducees arrived. 2 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. 3 It was already late in the afternoon, and they arrested Peter and John and put them in jail for the night. 4 But a lot of people who had heard the message believed it. So by now there were about 5,000 followers of the Lord.
5 The next morning the leaders, the elders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses met in Jerusalem. 6 The high priest Annas was there, as well as Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other members of the high priest's family. 7 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?”
8 Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and told the nation's leaders and the elders:
9 You are questioning us today about a kind deed in which a man who could not walk was healed. 10 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. 11 He is the stone you builders thought was worthless, and now he is the most important stone of all. 12 Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.
13 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. 14 But they could not deny what had happened. The man who had been healed was standing there with the apostles.
15 The officials commanded them to leave the council room. Then the officials said to each other, 16 “What can we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about this miracle, and we cannot say it didn't happen. 17 But to keep this thing from spreading, we will warn them never again to speak to anyone about the name of Jesus.” 18 So they called the two apostles back in and told them they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.
19 Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? 20 We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.”
21-22 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.
Peter and Others Pray for Courage
23 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. 24 When the rest of the Lord's followers heard this, they prayed together and said:
Master, you created heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 25 And by the Holy Spirit you spoke to our ancestor David. He was your servant, and you told him to say:
“Why are all the Gentiles
so furious?
Why do people
make foolish plans?
26 The kings of earth
prepare for war,
and the rulers
join together
against the Lord
and his Messiah.”
27 Here in Jerusalem, Herod and Pontius Pilate got together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel. Then they turned against your holy Servant Jesus, your chosen Messiah. 28 They did what you in your power and wisdom had already decided would happen.
29 Lord, listen to their threats! We are your servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message. 30 Show your mighty power, as we heal people and work miracles and wonders in the name of your holy Servant Jesus.
31 After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God's message.
Sharing Possessions
32 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. 33 In a powerful way the apostles told everyone that the Lord Jesus was now alive. God greatly blessed his followers, 34 and no one went in need of anything. Everyone who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money 35 to the apostles. Then they would give the money to anyone in need.
36-37 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.”
