Acts 5:17-42

Acts 5

On Trial Before the Sanhedrin

¹⁷ The high priest rose up, along with his associates (that is, the party of the Sadducees), because they were filled with envy. ¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple and keep on telling the people the whole message about this life.” ²¹ After they heard this, they entered the temple courts at daybreak and began to teach.

When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin (that is, the whole council of elders of the people of Israel). Then they sent orders to the jail to have the apostles brought in. ²² But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison. They returned and reported, ²³ “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” ²⁴ When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were puzzled about them, wondering what could have happened.

²⁵ Then someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people.”

²⁶ Then the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles in without force, because they were afraid that the people might stone them. ²⁷ After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin. The high priest asked them, ²⁸ “Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name? ^[1] Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring this man’s blood down on us!”

²⁹ But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you arrested and killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his right hand as Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and the forgiveness of sins. ³² We are witnesses ^[2] of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they were furious and began making a plan to put them to death. ^{[3] 34} But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was highly respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men ^[4] be put outside for a little while.

³⁵ Then he said to them, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, all his followers were scattered, and it all came to nothing.

³⁷ “After him, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and led many ^[5] people in a revolt. He also was killed, and all his followers were scattered.

³⁸ “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and leave them alone! For if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. ^[6] Perhaps you might even be found to be fighting against God!”

⁴⁰ They were convinced by him. They summoned the apostles, beat them, ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer shame for the Name. ^{[7] 42} Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 4:1-31

Acts 4

On Trial for an Act of Kindness

¹ As Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple guard, and the Sadducees approached them. ² They were very upset because Peter and John were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead in connection with Jesus. ³ They arrested them and put them in jail until the next day because it was already evening.

⁴ But many of those who had heard the message believed, and the number of the men increased to about five thousand.

⁵ The next day, the rulers, the elders, and the experts in the law assembled in Jerusalem ⁶ with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the rest of the high priest’s family. ⁷ After they made Peter and John stand in front of them, they began to question them: “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, ^{[1] 9} if we are being questioned today for a kind act that was done for the lame man, as to how this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that it was by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead! By him this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. ^[2]

¹² “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

¹³ When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and found out that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were astonished and took note of the fact that these men had been with Jesus.

¹⁴ But since they saw the man who had been healed standing there with them, they could not say anything in reply. ¹⁵ After they had ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they discussed the matter among themselves. ¹⁶ They asked, “What should we do with these men? To be sure, it is evident to all who live in Jerusalem that a miraculous sign has been done through them, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ However, in order that this may spread no further among the people, let us give them a strict ^[3] warning not to speak any longer to anyone in this name.”

¹⁸ Then they summoned them and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, “Decide whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God. ²⁰ For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

²¹ After they had threatened them further, they let them go. They found no way to punish them because all of the people were praising God for what had happened. ²² For the man on whom this miraculous sign of healing was performed was over forty years old.

The Church Speaks God’s Word Boldly

²³ After Peter and John were released, they went to their own friends and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said. ²⁴ When they heard this, with one mind they raised their voices to God and said, “Master, you are the God who ^[4] made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ By the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, you said:

²⁷ “For certainly, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did whatever your hand and your plan had decided beforehand should happen.

²⁹ “Now Lord, look at their threats and give to your servants the ability to keep on speaking your word with all boldness ³⁰ as you stretch out your hand to heal and as signs and wonders take place through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. Also, everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 2:37-47

Acts 2

³⁷ Now when the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Gentlemen, brothers, what should we do?”

³⁸ Peter answered them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your ^[1] sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

⁴⁰ He testified solemnly with many other words and was appealing to them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

⁴¹ Those who ^[2] accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.

The Christians Lived in Unity

⁴² They continued to hold firmly to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of the bread, and to the prayers. ⁴³ Awe came over every soul, ^[3] and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They were selling their possessions and property and were distributing the proceeds according to what anyone needed.

⁴⁶ Day after day, with one mind, they were devoted to meeting in the temple area, as they continued to break bread in their homes. They shared their food with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ as they continued praising God and being viewed favorably by all the people. Day after day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Acts 2:1-13

Acts 2

The Holy Spirit Comes on Pentecost

¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the rushing of a violent wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw divided tongues that were like fire resting on each one of them. ⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, since the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak fluently.

⁵ Now there were godly Jewish men from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶ When this sound was heard, a crowd came together and was confused, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ They were completely baffled and said to each other, ^[1] “Look, are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them speaking in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, and of Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya around Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes; ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring in our own languages the wonderful works of God.” ¹² They were all amazed and perplexed. They kept saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others mocked them and said, “They are full of new wine.”

Acts 1:1-11

Acts 1

Introduction and Theme

¹ I wrote my first book, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began doing and teaching ² until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³ After he had suffered, he presented himself alive to the apostles with many convincing proofs. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and told them things about the kingdom of God.

⁴ Once, when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what the Father promised, which you heard from me. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

⁶ So when they were together with him, they asked, “Lord, is this the time when you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

⁹ After he said these things, he was taken up while they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ They were looking intently into the sky as he went away. Suddenly, two men in white clothes stood beside them. ¹¹ They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Psalm 9 – 10

Psalm 9

Praise for God’s Righteous Judgment

Heading

For the choir director. According to “The Death of the Son.” ^[1] A psalm by David.

Praise for God’s Righteous Judgment

Judgment Against David’s Enemies

Judgment Against the Whole World

Closing Praise and Final Appeal

The Fate of the Wicked

Psalm 10

Break the Arm of the Wicked Man

An Opening Appeal for Action

A Portrait of the Wicked

An Appeal for Divine Justice

Confidence in Divine Justice

Psalm 6

Psalm 6

Do Not Rebuke Me in Your Anger

Heading

For the choir director. With stringed instruments.
According to sheminith. ^[1] A psalm by David.

Anxious Prayer

Confident Trust

Psalm 3 – 4

Psalm 3

How Many Are My Foes, But You Are My Shield

Heading

A psalm by David. When he fled from Absalom, ^[1] his son.

Many Enemies

One Protector

Peaceful Rest

Certain Victory

Psalm 4

My Righteous God, Give Me Relief

Heading

For the choir director. With stringed instruments. A psalm by David.

A Prayer to God

A Rebuke to Enemies

Advice to Friends

Closing Prayer

Luke 24:36-53

Luke 24

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

³⁷ But they were terrified and frightened and thought they were looking at a ghost.

³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ While they still did not believe it (because of their joy), and while they were still wondering, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb. ^{[1] 43} He took it and ate in front of them. ⁴⁴ He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He said to them, “This is what is written and so it must be: ^[2] The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ Look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Jesus Ascends Into Heaven

⁵⁰ He led them out as far as the vicinity of Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ And while he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵² So they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ They were continually in the temple courts, praising and ^[3] blessing God. Amen. ^[4]

Luke 24:1-12

Luke 24

The Resurrection

¹ On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women ^[1] went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. ² They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. ³ When they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. ⁵ The women were terrified and bowed down with their faces to the ground.

The men said to them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee ⁷ that the Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again?” ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

⁹ When they returned from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. ¹¹ Yet these words seemed to them like nonsense, and they did not believe them. ¹² But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over to look in, he saw only the strips of linen cloth. He went home, amazed at what had happened.

Luke 23:26-43

Luke 23

The Crucifixion

²⁶ As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country. They placed the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ A large crowd of people was following him, including women who were mourning and wailing for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹ Be sure of this: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that never nursed.’ ³⁰ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ ^{[1] 31} For if they do these things to the green wood, what will happen to the dry?”

³² Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed.

³³ When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

They cast lots to divide his garments among them. ³⁵ The people stood watching. The rulers were ridiculing him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One!”

³⁶ The soldiers also made fun of him. Coming up to him, they offered him sour wine, ³⁷ saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

³⁸ There was also an inscription written above him: “This is the King of the Jews.”

³⁹ One of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me ^[2] when you come in ^[3] your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 22:63 – 23:12

Luke 22

The Guards Mock Jesus

⁶³ The men who were holding Jesus in custody mocked him while they were beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵ And they went on saying many other blasphemous things against him.

Jewish Court

⁶⁶ As soon as it was day, the council of the elders of the people met together, both the chief priests and experts in the law. They brought him into their Sanhedrin and said, ⁶⁷ “If you are the Christ, tell us.”

But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, ⁶⁸ and if I ask you, you will not answer me or release me. ^{[1] 69} But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” ^[2]

⁷⁰ They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?”

He said to them, “I am what you are saying.”

⁷¹ Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth!”

Jesus’ Trial in Pilate’s Court

Luke 23

¹ The whole group of them got up and brought him before Pilate. ² They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this fellow misleading our nation, forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”

³ Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

“It is as you say,” Jesus replied.

⁴ Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

⁵ But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching all through Judea, beginning from Galilee all the way here.”

Pilate Sends Jesus to Herod

⁶ When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷ When he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad. For a long time, he had wanted to see him, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle performed by him. ⁹ He questioned him with many words, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the experts in the law stood there, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Herod, along with his soldiers, treated him with contempt and ridiculed him. Dressing him in bright clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. ¹² Herod and Pilate became friends with each other on that day. Before this they had been enemies of each other.

Luke 22:31-46

Luke 22

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³¹ The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, pay attention: Satan has asked to have you all, so that he may sift you as wheat. ³² But I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brothers.”

³³ He said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”

³⁴ But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”

³⁵ He said to them, “When I sent you out without money bag, traveler’s bag, and sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they said.

³⁶ Then he told them, “But now, let the one who has a money bag take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ ^[1] Indeed, what is written about me is going to have its fulfillment.”

³⁸ They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”

He said to them, “That is enough.”

Gethsemane

³⁹ Jesus left and went out to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom. His disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When he reached the place, he told them, “Keep praying that you may not enter into temptation.”

⁴¹ He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”

⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ As he was in agony, he prayed more fervently. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground. ^[2]

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them sleeping as a result of sorrow. ⁴⁶ He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and keep praying so that you may not enter into temptation.”