Peter and John Before the Council

1And as they were speaking to the people the priests and the officer of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2Being grieved that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead: 3And they laid hands upon them and put them in hold till the next day: for it was now evening. 4But many of them who had heard the word believed: and the number of the men was made five thousand.

5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their princes and ancients and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem. 6And Annas the high priest and Caiphas and John and Alexander: and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. 7And setting them in the midst, they asked: By what power or by what name, have you done this? 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: Ye princes of the people and ancients, hear. 9If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole: 10Be it known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him, this man standeth here before you, whole. 11This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.

Peter and John Threatened, Released

13Now seeing the constancy of Peter and of John, understanding that they were illiterate and ignorant men, they wondered: and they knew them that they had been with Jesus. 14Seeing the man also who had been healed, standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15But they commanded them to go aside out of the council: and they conferred among themselves, 16Saying: What shall we do to these men? For indeed a miracle hath been done by them, known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It is manifest: and we cannot deny it. 17But that it may be no farther spread among the people, let us threaten them that they speak no more in this name to any man. 18And calling them, they charged them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answering, said to them: If it be just, in the sight of God, to hear you rather than God, judge ye. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21But they, threatening, sent them away, not finding how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified what had been done, in that which had come to pass. 22For the man was above forty years old, in whom that miraculous cure had been wrought.

The Believers' Prayer for Boldness

(Psalm 2:1-12)

23And being let go, they came to their own company and related all that the chief priests and ancients had said to them. 24Who having heard it, with one accord lifted up their voice to God and said: Lord, thou art he that didst make heaven and earth, the sea and all things that are in them.

25Who, by the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, hast said: Why did the Gentiles rage: and the people meditate vain things?

26The kings of the earth stood up: and the princes assembled together against the Lord and his Christ.

27For of a truth there assembled together in this city against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, 28To do what thy hand and thy counsel decreed to be done. 29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants that with all confidence they may speak thy word, 30By stretching forth thy hand to cures and signs and wonders, to be done by the name of thy holy Son, Jesus. 31And when they had prayed, the place was moved wherein they were assembled: and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they spoke the word of God with confidence.

Sharing among Believers

(Acts 2:42-47)

32And the multitude of believers had but one heart and one soul. Neither did any one say that aught of the things which he possessed was his own: but all things were common unto them. 33And with great power did the Apostles give testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord: and great grace was in them all. 34For neither was there any one needy among them. For as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the price of the things they sold, 35And laid it down before the feet of the apostles. And distribution was made to every one, according as he had need.

36And Joseph, who, by the apostles, was surnamed Barnabas (which is, by interpretation, The son of consolation), a Levite, a Cyprian born, 37Having land, sold it and brought the price and laid it at the feet of the Apostles.