Acts 4:16-33

¹⁶saying, “What shall we do to these men? For indeed, that a known sign has come to pass by them is evident to all those who are dwelling in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

¹⁷But lest it be spread further among the people, let us threaten them with a threat, that they speak no longer to any man in this name.”

¹⁸And summoning them, they commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹But Peter and John answered them and said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you be the judge.

²⁰For we can do none other but to speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

²¹So having threatened them further, they released them, finding no way of punishing them, on account of the people, because they all were glorifying God over that which had occurred.

²²For the man was over forty, on whom had come about this sign of healing.

²³And being released, they came to their own, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

²⁴So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one mind and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

²⁵who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, and the people conspired vain things?

²⁶The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were assembled together against the Lord and against His Christ.’

²⁷“For truly they were assembled against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,

²⁸to do all that Your hand and Your counsel foreordained to come to pass.

²⁹Now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

³⁰by extending Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may come about through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

³¹And when they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

³²Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things belonging to him was his own, but they had all things in common.

³³And with great power the apostles were giving forth their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.