1 Enquanto falavam ao povo, Pedro e João foram confrontados pelos sacerdotes, pelo capitão da guarda do templo e por alguns saduceus. 2 Os líderes estavam muito perturbados porque Pedro e João ensinavam ao povo que em Jesus há ressurreição dos mortos. 3 Eles os prenderam e, como já anoitecia, os colocaram na prisão até a manhã seguinte. 4 Muitos que tinham ouvido a mensagem creram, totalizando, agora, cerca de cinco mil homens.

5 No dia seguinte, o conselho das autoridades, dos líderes do povo e dos mestres da lei se reuniu em Jerusalém. 6 Estavam ali Anás, o sumo sacerdote, e também Caifás, João, Alexandre e outros parentes do sumo sacerdote. 7 Mandaram trazer Pedro e João e os interrogaram: "Com que poder, ou em nome de quem, vocês fizeram isso?".

8 Cheio do Espírito Santo, Pedro lhes respondeu: "Autoridades e líderes do povo, 9 estamos sendo interrogados hoje porque realizamos uma boa ação em favor de um aleijado, e os senhores querem saber como ele foi curado. 10 Saibam os senhores e todo o povo de Israel que ele foi curado pelo nome de Jesus Cristo, o nazareno, a quem os senhores crucificaram, mas a quem Deus ressuscitou dos mortos. 11 Pois é a respeito desse Jesus que se diz:

‘A pedra que vocês, os construtores, rejeitaram

se tornou a pedra angular’.

12 Não há salvação em nenhum outro! Não há nenhum outro nome debaixo do céu, em toda a humanidade, por meio do qual devamos ser salvos".

13 Quando os membros do conselho viram a coragem de Pedro e João, ficaram admirados, pois perceberam que eram homens comuns, sem instrução religiosa formal. Reconheceram também que eles haviam estado com Jesus. 14 Mas não havia nada que pudessem fazer, pois o homem que tinha sido curado estava ali diante deles. 15 Assim, ordenaram que Pedro e João fossem retirados da sala do conselho e começaram a discutir entre si.

16 "Que faremos com esses homens?", perguntavam uns aos outros. "Não podemos negar que realizaram um sinal, como todos em Jerusalém sabem. 17 Mas, para evitar que espalhem sua mensagem, devemos adverti-los de que não falem nesse nome a mais ninguém." 18 Então os chamaram de volta e ordenaram que nunca mais falassem nem ensinassem em nome de Jesus.

19 Pedro e João, porém, responderam: "Os senhores acreditam que Deus quer que obedeçamos a vocês, e não a ele? 20 Não podemos deixar de falar do que vimos e ouvimos!".

21 Os membros do conselho fizeram novas ameaças, mas, por fim, os soltaram. Não sabiam como castigá-los sem provocar um tumulto, visto que todos louvavam a Deus pelo ocorrido, 22 pois o aleijado que havia sido curado milagrosamente tinha mais de quarenta anos de idade.

23 Assim que foram libertos, Pedro e João voltaram ao lugar onde estavam os outros irmãos e lhes contaram o que os principais sacerdotes e líderes tinham dito. 24 Ao ouvir o relato, todos os presentes levantaram juntos a voz e oraram a Deus: "Ó Soberano Senhor, Criador dos céus e da terra, do mar e de tudo que neles há, 25 falaste muito tempo atrás pelo Espírito Santo, nas palavras de nosso antepassado Davi, teu servo:

‘Por que as nações se enfureceram tanto?

Por que perderam tempo com planos inúteis?

26 Os reis da terra se prepararam para guerrear;

os governantes se uniram

contra o Senhor

e contra seu Cristo’.

27 "De fato, isso aconteceu aqui, nesta cidade, pois Herodes Antipas, o governador Pôncio Pilatos, os gentios e o povo de Israel se uniram contra Jesus, teu santo Servo, a quem ungiste. 28 Tudo que fizeram, porém, havia sido decidido de antemão pela tua vontade. 29 E agora, Senhor, ouve as ameaças deles e concede a teus servos coragem para anunciar tua palavra. 30 Estende tua mão com poder para curar, e que sinais e maravilhas sejam realizados por meio do nome de teu santo Servo Jesus".

31 Depois dessa oração, o lugar onde estavam reunidos tremeu, e todos ficaram cheios do Espírito Santo e pregavam corajosamente a palavra de Deus.

32 Todos os que creram estavam unidos em coração e mente. Não se consideravam donos de seus bens, de modo que compartilhavam tudo que tinham. 33 Com grande poder, os apóstolos davam testemunho da ressurreição do Senhor Jesus, e sobre todos eles havia grande graça. 34 Entre eles não havia necessitados, pois quem possuía terras ou casas vendia o que era seu 35 e levava o dinheiro aos apóstolos, para que dessem aos que precisavam de ajuda.

36 José, a quem os apóstolos deram o nome Barnabé, que significa "Filho do encorajamento", era da tribo de Levi e tinha nascido na ilha de Chipre. 37 Ele vendeu um campo que possuía e entregou o dinheiro aos apóstolos.

1 Now while they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.5 Now it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together at Jerusalem,6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of high priestly descent.7 And they brought them forward and began to inquire, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"8 Then Peter, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:9 If we today are being judged for a good work to a weak man, by what means he has been made well,10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this[ name] this [man] stands here before you whole.11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you, the builders, which became the chief cornerstone.'12 Nor is there salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven which has been given among men by which we must be saved."13 Now when they observed the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.14 But because they saw standing with them the man who had been healed, they had nothing to say against [them].15 And they commanded them to go away outside the council, and began to confer among themselves,16 saying, "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.17 But lest it be spread further among the people, let us threaten them with a threat, to speak no longer in this name."18 And summoning them, they commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach in the name of Jesus.19 But Peter and John answered them and said, "Whether it is right before God to hear you rather than God, you judge.20 For we can do none other but to speak the things which we saw and heard.21 So 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.22 For the man was over forty, on whom had come about this sign of healing.23 And being released, they came to their own, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.24 So 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,25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, and the people conspired vain things?26 The 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,28 to do all that Your hand and Your counsel foreordained to come to pass.29 Now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,30 by extending Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may come about through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."31 And 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.32 Now 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.33 And with great power the apostles were giving forth their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.34 Nor was there anyone needy among them; for all who were owners of lands or houses were selling them, and were bringing the proceeds of the things which had been sold,35 and were placing them beside the feet of the apostles; and they were distributing to each, to the degree that anyone had need.36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a Cyprian by nation,37 who, possessing a field, sold it and brought the money and placed it beside the feet of the apostles.