Acts 4 Summary

The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees arrest Peter and John for preaching resurrection through Jesus, holding them until the next day; yet many who hear the word believe, bringing the number of believers to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, elders, scribes, and high priests examine them and ask by what power they performed the healing, and Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, declares that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—whom they crucified but God raised—the man stands healed before them. The council marvels at their boldness and recognizes they had been with Jesus but cannot deny the miracle, so they threaten them to speak no more in Jesus's name, and Peter and John refuse, saying they cannot but speak what they have seen and heard. The apostles return to their company and together lift their voice to God, asking Him to grant them boldness to speak His word with signs and wonders; when they finish praying, the place shakes and they are all filled with the Holy Ghost and speak the word with boldness.