Bible / Acts
Acts 4
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 And as they were speaking to the people the priests and the officer of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead:
3 And they laid hands upon them and put them in hold till the next day: for it was now evening.
4 But many of them who had heard the word believed: and the number of the men was made five thousand.
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their princes and ancients and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem.
6 And Annas the high priest and Caiphas and John and Alexander: and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.
7 And setting them in the midst, they asked: By what power or by what name, have you done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: Ye princes of the people and ancients, hear. Fathers
9 If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole:
10 Be 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. CCC
11 This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner. CCC
12 Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved. CCC
13 Now 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.
14 Seeing the man also who had been healed, standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But they commanded them to go aside out of the council: and they conferred among themselves,
16 Saying: 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.
17 But 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.
18 And calling them, they charged them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answering, said to them: If it be just, in the sight of God, to hear you rather than God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. CCC
21 But 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. CCC
22 For the man was above forty years old, in whom that miraculous cure had been wrought. Fathers
23 And being let go, they came to their own company and related all that the chief priests and ancients had said to them.
24 Who 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. Fathers
25 Who, 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?
26 The kings of the earth stood up: and the princes assembled together against the Lord and his Christ. CCC
27 For 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, CCC
28 To do what thy hand and thy counsel decreed to be done. CCC
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants that with all confidence they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thy hand to cures and signs and wonders, to be done by the name of thy holy Son, Jesus.
31 And 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.
32 And 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. CCC
33 And with great power did the Apostles give testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord: and great grace was in them all. Fathers
34 For 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,
35 And laid it down before the feet of the apostles. And distribution was made to every one, according as he had need.
36 And Joseph, who, by the apostles, was surnamed Barnabas (which is, by interpretation, The son of consolation), a Levite, a Cyprian born,
37 Having land, sold it and brought the price and laid it at the feet of the Apostles.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
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“[Neither is there salvation in any other: for] there is none other name under heaven, which is given to men, whereby we must be saved:”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 597 “The historical complexity of Jesus' trial is apparent in the Gospel accounts. the personal sin of the participants (Judas, the Sanhedrin, Pilate)…”
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- CCC 756 “Often, too, the Church is called the building of God. the Lord compared himself to the stone which the builders rejected, but…”
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- CCC 425 “The transmission of the Christian faith consists primarily in proclaiming Jesus Christ in order to lead others to faith in him. From…”
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- CCC 2640 “St. Luke in his gospel often expresses wonder and praise at the marvels of Christ and in his Acts of the Apostles…”
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“They were confounded, therefore, both by this instance of healing ("for the man was above forty years old on whom this miracle of healing took place”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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“For of a truth, in this city, against Thy holy Son Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 436 “The word "Christ" comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah, which means "anointed". It became the name proper to Jesus…”
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- CCC 600 “To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of "predestination", he includes…”
Read the Fathers
“power," it is added, "gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.