Acts 5:14-38

¹⁴and believers were more than ever added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women;)

¹⁵so that they brought out the sick into the streets and put them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter, when he came, might overshadow some one of them.

¹⁶And the multitude also of the cities round about came together to Jerusalem, bringing sick persons and persons beset by unclean spirits, who were all healed.

¹⁷And the high priest rising up, and all they that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, were filled with wrath,

¹⁸and laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison.

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

²⁰Go ye and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

²¹And when they heard it, they entered very early into the temple and taught. And when the high priest was come, and they that were with him, they called together the council and all the elderhood of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

²²And when the officers were come, they did not find them in the prison; and returned and reported

²³saying, We found the prison shut with all security, and the keepers standing at the doors; but when we had opened them, within we found no one.

²⁴And when they heard these words, both the priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests were in perplexity as to them, what this would come to.

²⁵And some one coming reported to them, Lo, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.

²⁶Then the captain, having gone with the officers, brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

²⁷And they bring them and set them in the council. And the high priest asked them,

²⁸saying, We strictly enjoined you not to teach in this name: and lo, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and purpose to bring upon us the blood of this man.

²⁹But Peter answering, and the apostles, said, God must be obeyed rather than men.

³⁰The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom ye have slain, having hanged on a cross.

³¹Him has God exalted by his right hand as leader and saviour, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins.

³²And we are his witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit also, which God has given to those that obey him.

³³But they, when they heard these things, were cut to the heart, and took counsel to kill them.

³⁴But a certain man, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, held in honour of all the people, rose up in the council, and commanded to put the men out for a short while,

³⁵and said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as regards these men what ye are going to do;

³⁶for before these days Theudas rose up, alleging himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, were joined; who was slain, and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing.

³⁷After him rose Judas the Galilean in the days of the census, and drew away a number of people after him; and he perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

³⁸And now I say to you, Withdraw from these men and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work have its origin from men, it will be destroyed;