Last week we were on the road and a Thursday
Bible Study was not posted; but it will be posted today ;-)
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO Acts ~ Chapter 4
While they were still talking to the people,
the priests, the Sadducees and the captain of the Temple came upon them,
angered because they had been teaching the people and preaching that Yeshua had
been risen from the dead. So they arrested them and threw them into prison
until the next day. It was then already evening. But of those who had heard the
sermon, many believed, and the number of disciples increased to about 5000.
On the next day the rulers, elders and
scribes came together in Jerusalem. Annas, the high priest, was there as well
as Caiaphas, John and Alexander; in fact, all the members of the high priest
family was there. They placed the apostles before them and demanded to know, ‘By
what power, or in whose name have you done this?’
The Simon Peter, filled with The Ruach, gave
reply. “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel,” he said, “Listen! Today we
have done a good deed to a helpless man. Maybe you are questioning us as to how
he was healed. If so, then let it be known to you and to all the people of
Israel that this man now stands before you perfectly sound, made so in the Name
of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach of Nazareth, Whom you crucified but Elohim raised up
again from the dead. He is the {Stone that you builders rejected, Which has
become the Chief Cornerstone – Psalm 118:22}. There is salvation
in no one else, nor is there any other Name under Heaven given among men by
which we can be saved.”
They were surprised to note the boldness of
Simon Peter and John. They could tell that they were simple men with no
schooling, so they were astonished at them. And they recognized that they had
been with Yeshua. But they did not dispute what they had said, because the man who
had been healed was standing there with them. So they ordered them to leave the
council, and held a consultation with one another. ‘What shall we do with these
men?’ they asked, ‘it is clear to every inhabitant of Jerusalem that a
remarkable miracle has been performed through them. We cannot deny that. Now to
keep the news of it from spreading father among the people, let us warn them
with threats not to say anything to anyone in this Name.’ So they called them
in again and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the Name of Yeshua.
In answering them, Simon Peter and John said, “Whether it would be right for
us, before Elohei, to listen to you rather than to Elohei, you will have to
judge. But as for us, we cannot do otherwise than tell the things that we have
seen and heard.” They then let them go, after having added some further
threats. On account of the people, they could find no way to punish them,
because everyone was praising Elohim for what had taken place. And the man on
whom this miracle of healing had been wrought was more than 40 years of age.
As soon as the Apostles were set free, they
went back to their own group and told them everything that the chief priests
and elders had said. On hearing their story, they lifted up their voices to
Elohei with one account and said, “El Elohim (Almighty God), You are the maker
of the heavens, the earth, the sea and everything that is in them. You have sad
through The Ruach, by the mouth of our father David, Your servant, ‘Why did the
heathen rage and plan vain things? The kings of the earth took a stand, and the
rulers untied against Adonai and against His Mashiach. How true is it that both
Herod and Pontius Pilate, as well as the Gentiles and the tribes of Israel, united
here against Yeshua, Your Holy Servant, Whom You had anointed! They would carry
out whatever plans and purposes You have decreed should take place. And now,
Adonai, take note of their threats, and let Your servants preach Your Word with
all boldness! May Your hand be stretched out to heal, and may signs and wonders
be done through the Name of Yeshua, Your holy Servant!” When their prayer had
ended, the place in which they had gathered was shaken, and they were filled
with The Ruach and spoke the Word of Elohei with boldness.
All the Believers were then of 1 heart and 1
soul, and not one of them claimed any of his own possessions as his own, but
they owned everything in common. With great power the Apostles gave testimony
concerning the resurrection of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, and great was the grace that
rested on all of them. No ne among them was in want, because all who owned
lands or houses sold them, and they brought the proceeds from the properties
sold – this they laid at the feet of the Apostles, after which a distribution
was made to each one according to his need. Among them was one Joseph, surnamed
Barnabas by the Apostles, a name meaning Son of Consolation. He was a Levite,
and a native of Cyprus. He had some land, but he sold it and laid the money at
the Apostles feet.
