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ACT 4:1-12

Peter and John before the Sanhedrin

1And while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, [4:2] being deeply vexed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. [4:3] And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. [4:4] But many of those who heard the word trusted, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. [4:5] And it came about the next day that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, [4:6] and Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of high priestly descent. [4:7] And having placed them in the midst, they were inquiring: 'By what power or by what name did you do this?' [4:8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: 'Rulers of the people and elders, [4:9] if we are being examined today for a beneficial deed done to a weakened man — by what means this man has been healed — [4:10] let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus the Anointed One of Nazareth — whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead — by him this man stands before you in good health. [4:11] This is the stone that was treated with contempt by you the builders, which has become the cornerstone. [4:12] And there is deliverance in no one else — for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.'

In the world it was spoken into

In Acts 4:1-12, Peter and John are confronted by the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council composed of priests, elders, and Sadducees. The Sadducees, a dominant faction in the Temple hierarchy, rejected the resurrection of the dead, a core tenet of Pharisaic belief and now central to the apostles' proclamation about Jesus. The (captain) of the Temple guard, a high-ranking official responsible for maintaining order in the Temple precincts, was also present, indicating the seriousness of the perceived threat. The apostles' teaching in the Temple, a public space where Jewish religious authority was most visible, challenged the Sadducees' theological and political control. The term (being distressed) reflects their deep agitation, not merely at the content of the teaching but at its public dissemination and the growing number of followers. The arrest of Peter and John underscores the Sanhedrin's attempt to suppress a movement they viewed as destabilizing. The mention of (good work) and (salvation) would have resonated with Jewish expectations of divine deliverance, but the apostles' claim that this salvation is found exclusively in Jesus would have been deeply provocative.

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How other translations render this

ACT 4:1

KJV
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
BSB
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
Koinōnos
And while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

ACT 4:2

KJV
Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
BSB
greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Koinōnos
being deeply vexed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

ACT 4:3

KJV
And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
BSB
They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.
Koinōnos
And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

ACT 4:4

KJV
Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
BSB
But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
Koinōnos
But many of those who heard the word trusted, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

ACT 4:5

KJV
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
BSB
The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,
Koinōnos
And it came about the next day that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem,

ACT 4:6

KJV
And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
BSB
along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priestʼs family.
Koinōnos
and Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of high priestly descent.

ACT 4:7

KJV
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
BSB
They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Koinōnos
And having placed them in the midst, they were inquiring: 'By what power or by what name did you do this?

ACT 4:8

KJV
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
BSB
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
Koinōnos
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: 'Rulers of the people and elders,

ACT 4:9

KJV
If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
BSB
If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,
Koinōnos
if we are being examined today for a beneficial deed done to a weakened man — by what means this man has been healed —

ACT 4:10

KJV
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
BSB
then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
Koinōnos
let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus the Anointed One of Nazareth — whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead — by him this man stands before you in good health.

ACT 4:11

KJV
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
BSB
This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
Koinōnos
This is the stone that was treated with contempt by you the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

ACT 4:12

KJV
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
BSB
Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Koinōnos
And there is deliverance in no one else — for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

  • Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.1.2
Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.1.2

The Jews had for a great while had three sects of philosophy peculiar to themselves; the sect of the Essens, and the sect of the Sadducees, and the third sort of opinions was that of those called Pharisees

Cited to ground: The Sadducees, a dominant faction in the Temple hierarchy, rejected the resurrection of the dead, a core tenet of Pharisaic belief and now central to the apostles' proclamation about Jesus.

Translator's notes

ACT 4:1

  • captain:The word translated 'captain' refers to the commander of the Temple guard, a significant religious and military official responsible for order within the Temple precincts.

ACT 4:2

  • being distressed:The term translated 'being distressed' suggests a deep vexation or annoyance, indicating that the Temple authorities were greatly troubled and even worn out by the apostles' teaching.

ACT 4:9

  • a good work:The phrase 'a good work' refers to a beneficial deed or act of kindness, often with the implication of public service or a favor done for someone's well-being.

ACT 4:12

  • salvation;:The word translated 'salvation' encompasses a broad meaning of deliverance, preservation, and well-being, not just spiritual salvation but also physical healing and rescue from danger.