Apustulis Pēteris un Jānis sinedrija priekšā
1 Viņiem uz tautu runājot, piestāja priesteri, tempļa sardzes priekšnieks un saduķeji, 2 noskaitušies, ka viņi māca tautu un sludina Jēzū augšāmcelšanos no mirušajiem. 3 Tie sagrāba viņus un turēja apcietinājumā līdz rītam; tad bija jau vakars. 4 Bet daudzi, kas šos vārdus dzirdēja, sāka ticēt, un šo vīru skaits bija ap pieci tūkstoši. 5 Nākamajā dienā Jeruzālemē sapulcējās viņu vadoņi, vecajie un rakstu mācītāji, 6 augstais priesteris Hanns, arī Kajafa, Jānis, Aleksandrs un citi, kas bija no virspriesteru dzimtas. 7 Nostādījuši abus apustuļus vidū, tie sāka iztaujāt: “Kādā spēkā un kā vārdā jūs to darījāt?” 8 Tad Pēteris, Svētā Gara pārņemts, tiem sacīja: “Tautas vadoņi un vecajie, 9 ja mums šodien jāatbild par labu darbu pie slima cilvēka, kā viņš kļuva vesels, 10 tad lai jums un visai Israēla tautai ir zināms, ka Nācarieša, Jēzus Kristus, vārdā, kuru jūs piesitāt krustā un kuru Dievs uzmodināja no mirušajiem, šis cilvēks stāv vesels jūsu priekšā. 11 Šis ir akmens, ko jūs, nama cēlāji, esat atmetuši. Tas ir kļuvis par stūrakmeni. 12 Un nav pestīšanas nevienā citā, nedz cits vārds zem debess ir cilvēkiem dots, kurā mums lemta pestīšana.” 13 Redzēdami Pētera un Jāņa drosmi un nopratuši, ka viņi ir neizglītoti un vienkārši ļaudis, tie brīnījās, jo labi saprata, ka viņi bijuši kopā ar Jēzu, 14 un, redzēdami izdziedināto cilvēku pie viņiem stāvam, tiem nebija ko teikt. 15 Pavēlējuši viņiem iziet no sinedrija, tie sprieda savā starpā: 16 “Ko lai mēs ar šiem cilvēkiem darām? Caur viņiem taču ir notikusi zīme, skaidri redzama visiem Jeruzālemes iedzīvotājiem, – noliegt mēs to nevaram, 17 bet, lai starp cilvēkiem tas neizpaužas vēl vairāk, piedraudēsim viņiem šajā vārdā ne ar vienu cilvēku vairs nerunāt.” 18 Viņus pieaicinājuši, tie viņiem stingri aizliedza Jēzus vārdā runāt un mācīt. 19 Bet Pēteris un Jānis tiem atbildēja: “Spriediet paši – vai Dieva priekšā ir taisnīgi jūs vairāk klausīt nekā Dievu? 20 Mēs nevaram nerunāt par to, ko paši esam redzējuši un dzirdējuši.” 21 Tad tie vēl vairāk piedraudēja un viņus atlaida, jo ļaužu dēļ tie nezināja, kā viņus sodīt, jo visi slavēja Dievu par to, kas bija noticis. 22 Cilvēkam, pie kura bija notikusi dziedināšanas zīme, bija vairāk nekā četrdesmit gadu.
Ticīgie lūdz drosmi
23 Atlaisti tie devās pie savējiem un vēstīja, ko virspriesteri un vecajie tiem bija sacījuši. 24 To dzirdējuši, visi vienprātībā skaļi sauca uz Dievu: “Valdniek, tu, kas esi radījis debesis un zemi, un jūru, un visu, kas tajā, 25 tu caur sava kalpa, mūsu tēva Dāvida, muti Svētajā Garā esi sacījis: kādēļ satrakojušās tautas un ciltis perina nelietību? 26 Sacēlušies ir zemes ķēniņi, valdnieki sadevušies kopā pret Kungu un viņa Svaidīto. – 27 Jo patiesi Hērods un Poncijs Pilāts ar pagāniem un Israēla ļaudīm ir šajā pilsētā sadevušies kopā pret tavu svēto kalpu Jēzu, ko tu esi svaidījis. 28 Tie apvienojušies, lai darītu to, ko tava roka ir gribējusi un kas jau iepriekš bija tavs nodoms, ka tam tā jānotiek. 29 Redzi, Kungs, kā viņi tagad draud; dod saviem kalpiem droši runāt tavu vārdu, 30 lai tava roka izstiepjas dziedināt un zīmes un brīnumi lai notiek caur tava svētā kalpa Jēzus vārdu.” 31 Kad viņi bija beiguši lūgt, vieta, kur viņi bija sapulcējušies, nodrebēja, un visi kļuva Svētā Gara piepildīti un droši teica Dieva vārdu.
Pirmā kristiešu kopiena
32 Ticīgo pulks bija viena sirds un dvēsele, un neviens neko no savas mantas nesauca par savu – viss viņiem bija kopīgs. 33 Un apustuļi ar lielu spēku liecināja par Jēzus Kristus augšāmcelšanos, un liela žēlastība bija pār viņiem visiem. 34 Viņu vidū nebija trūkumcietēju, jo ikviens, kam piederēja zeme un nami, pārdeva tos un atnesa iegūto naudu 35 un nolika pie apustuļu kājām, un tā tika izdalīta visiem, kā kuram vajadzēja. 36 Arī Jāzeps, viens no apustuļiem, Kiprā dzimis levīts, saukts Barnaba, kas tulkojumā nozīmē: Mierinājuma dēls, 37 pārdeva lauku, kas tam piederēja, atnesa naudu un nolika 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.”
