Acts 5:11-40

¹¹So great fear came on the whole assembly and on all who heard these things.

¹²Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people by the hands of the Apostles; and they were all in Solomon's Porch with one purpose.

¹³None of the rest dared to join them, but the people were magnifying them.

¹⁴Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

¹⁵to the point that they kept carrying the sick into the streets, placing them on cots and pallets, so that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

¹⁶Further, the multitude from the surrounding cities also kept coming into Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

¹⁷Then the high priest rose up, and all those with him (being the sect of the Sadducees); they were filled with jealousy

¹⁸and laid their hands on the Apostles and put them in the common prison.

¹⁹But, during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, and leading them out he said,

²⁰“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

²¹So upon hearing it they entered the temple about daybreak and started to teach. Then the high priest and those with him arrived and convened the Sanhedrin, even all the council of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

²²Well, upon arriving the operatives did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported,

²³saying: “We certainly found the prison securely locked, and the guards standing in front of the doors, but upon opening them we found no one inside!”

²⁴Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were really perplexed as to what the implications might be.

²⁵But someone came and told them, “Hey, the men whom you put in the jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

²⁶Then the captain went with the operatives and brought them without violence, because they were afraid that the people might stone them.

²⁷So bringing them they set them before the Sanhedrin; and the high priest addressed them

²⁸saying: “Did we not emphatically command you not to teach in this name? Just look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood on us!”

²⁹So in answer Peter and the Apostles said: “One must obey God rather than men.

³⁰The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

³¹Him God has exalted to His right hand as Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

³²And we are witnesses to these statements about Him, as also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those obeying Him.”

³³Well upon hearing it they became infuriated and started plotting to kill them.

³⁴But someone in the council stood up (a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people) and commanded to put the Apostles out for a bit.

³⁵He then said to them: “Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves concerning these men, as to what you are about to do.

³⁶For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody; with whom about four hundred men joined up; who was killed, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.

³⁷Later Judas the Galilean rose up, in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.

³⁸So now I say to you, keep away from these men and leave them alone; because if this counsel or this work should be of men, it will be abolished;

³⁹but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it—lest you even be found to be fighting against God!”

⁴⁰Well they were persuaded by him, and summoned the Apostles; after beating them they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.