Acts 4
1 Now while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees approached them, 2 [greatly] annoyed because of their teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead, 3 and they put [their] hands upon them and placed them in prison to [the] morrow; for it was already evening. 4 Now many of those having heard the word believed, and the number of men became [about] five thousand.5 Now it came [about] on the morrow [there were] gathered of them the rulers and the elders and the scribes in Jerusalem, 6 and Annas the chief priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the generation1 of chief priests, 7 and having stood them in the midst they were questioning them: In2 what sort of name do you do this? 8 And then Peter having been filled of the Holy Spirit said to them: Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we today are judged weak upon the good-deeds of men, by which this [one] is saved, 10 let3 it be known to all you and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from [the] dead, in4 this [one] does this [lame one] stand before you healthy. 11 This is the stone rejected by you the builders, the [one] having become the chief cornerstone5. 12 And salvation is in6 no other; for neither is there another name given under in which you must7 be saved. 13 Now seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and understanding that they are unlettered and unskilled men, they were marveling, and they were knowing that they were with Jesus, 14 and seeing the man having been healed standing with them, they had nothing to criticize. 15 So having commanded them to go out from the council, they conferred with each other 16 saying: What should we do to these men? For indeed it is today become known through them, manifest to all those dwelling in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it. 17 But in order that it not be more distributed to the crowd, let us threaten them to no longer be speaking upon this name to any men. 18 And having called them they commanded [them] completely not to be uttering nor to be teaching upon the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answering said to them: If it is just before God, to be hearing8 you rather than God, [you] judge. 20 For we are not able to not be speaking [about] what we have seen and heard. 21 So having further threatened [them] they dismissed them out, finding nothing [as to] how they many punish them, because of the people, for everyone was glorifying God upon the [things] having come to pass, 22 for the man was more than forty years [old] upon whom came to pass this sign of healing. 23 So having been dismissed, they came to their own and reported to them as much as the chief priests and elders said to them. 24 So having heard, they with one purpose raised [their] voice to God and said: Lord9 (), you [are] the [one] having made the heaven and the earth and everything in them, 25 the [one] having said from the mouth of our father David your child through the Holy Spirit10:
Why have the nations raged
And the peoples conspire empty [things]?
26 The kings of the land have taken [their] stand
Against the Lord and against his anointed11 [one].
27 For they were in truth gathered in this city against your holy child Jesus, whom you anointed, and Herod and Pontius Pilate with the nations and peoples of Israel, 28 to do as much as your hand and your intention predestined to come to pass. 29 And with respect to now, Lord, look upon their threats, and give to your slaves with all boldness to be speaking your word, 30 when you be stretching out [your] hand to healings and signs and wonders to come to pass through the name [of your] holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had asked, the place in which they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they were speaking the word of God with boldness. 32 Now the multitudes of those having believed were of one heart and psyche-life12 , and [there was] not one possessing anything to him [who] was saying he was having his own [thing], but they were having everything common. 33 And with great powers were the apostles of the Lord Jesus giving witness of the resurrection, and great joy was upon them all. 34 For neither was any impoverished among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses, having sold [them] they were bringing the price of the [things] being sold, 35 and were placing them beside the feet of the apostles, and they were distributing to each to the degree anyone had need. 36 And Joseph the [one] called Barnabbas by the apostles, which is being translated Son of Encouragement, [a] Levite, of the people of Cypris, 37 possessing to him [a] field, having sold [it], brought the money and placed it before the feet of the apostles.
1or "relatives", "descendants"
2or "By"
3imperative
4or "by"
5Ps.118:22
6or "by"
7i.e. absolutely will
8i.e. "obeying"
9DESPOTES "DES-poh-tays" (δεσπoτης ) `Lord': owner and absolute master of slaves. Whereas DESPOTES emphasizes ownership and complete right of disposal, KURIOS (also translated `Lord') emphasizes power—having it, having the right to wield it. Only slaves have a DESPOTES; even free persons may have a KURIOS. DESPOTES occurs in Luke.2:29, Acts.4:24, 1Tim.6:1, 1Tim.6:2, 2Time.2:21, Tit.2:9, 1Pet.2:18, 2Pet.2:1, Jude.1:4, Rev.6:10. "Lord" in every other case is KURIOS (κυριoς )
10Ps.2:1-2
11[CHRISTOS]
12from PSYCHE (ψυχη): an individual manifestation of life/consciousness. Animals have PSYCHEs as well as humans. Contrast ZOE (ζωη)—Life 'collectively', interdependent, interconnected.