Peter and John before the council
Acts 4:1-22
For healing the man at the Beautiful Gate and proclaiming Jesus, Peter and John spent a night in custody. Before the council, Peter said the man was healed by the name of Jesus. They were forbidden to speak about him, and they answered that they could not keep silent. Acts 4:1-22
The story, in plain words
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and the Sadducees came up. The Sadducees were annoyed that they were proclaiming, in Jesus, the resurrection of the dead. Acts 4:1-2
They arrested them and kept them in custody until the next day, because it was already evening. Acts 4:3
The next day the council gathered: the leaders, the elders, the scribes, Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas. Acts 4:5-6
They brought the apostles into their midst and asked them by what power, or in whose name, they had done this. Acts 4:7 Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered…
The rest of the story is part of the subscription.
See the mapWhat the Bible says
Acts 4:1-22
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. 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 known miracle hath been done by them, 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.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
To talk about together
- Peter and John were simple men, without schooling, and still they spoke boldly. Where do you think that strength came from?
- Has it ever been hard for you to tell the truth or to talk about your faith? What helped you?
- For the child: what good thing about Jesus would you tell a friend?