Acts 5:18-42

¹⁸They arrested the apostles and threw them in the public jail.

¹⁹But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and led them out.

²⁰“Go to the Temple and tell the people everything about this new way of life!” he told them.

²¹They did as they were told and went into the Temple at around dawn and began teaching. Then the high priest and his followers called a council meeting with all the leaders of Israel. He sent for the apostles to be brought from prison.

²²But when the officials went to the prison they couldn't find the apostles so they went back and told the council,

²³“We found the prison all locked up, with guards at the doors. But when we had them open up, we couldn't find anyone inside.”

²⁴Now when the captain of the Temple guards and the chief priests heard this they were totally baffled, and wondered what was going on.

²⁵Then someone came in and said, “Look, the men you put in prison are right there in the Temple teaching people!”

²⁶So the captain went with his guards and brought them in, but did not use force because they were afraid that the people would stone them.

²⁷The apostles were brought in and made to stand in front of the council.

²⁸“Didn't we order you not to teach in this name?” the high priest demanded to know. “Now look—you've filled the whole of Jerusalem with your teaching, and you're trying to blame us for his death!”

²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered, “We have to obey God rather than men.

³⁰The God of our forefathers raised Jesus from the dead—the one you killed by hanging him on a cross.

³¹God exalted him to a position of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior, as a way to bring repentance to Israel, and for the forgiveness of sins.

³²We are witnesses of what happened, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³When the council heard this they were furious and wanted to kill them.

³⁴But then one of the council members stood up to speak. He was Gamaliel, a Pharisee and a doctor of law who was respected by everyone. He ordered the apostles sent out for a short while.

³⁵Gamaliel addressed the council: “Leaders of Israel, be careful what you plan to do to these men.

³⁶Some time ago Theudas tried to make a name for himself, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed and all who followed him were scattered and it came to nothing.

³⁷Then after him Judas of Galilee came along at the time of the census, and he attracted some followers. He also died, and those who listened to him were dispersed.

³⁸So in the current case I recommend that you leave these men alone, and just let them go. If what they are planning or what they are doing comes from their own human thinking, then it will be defeated.

³⁹But if it comes from God, you won't be able to defeat them. You could even find yourselves fighting against God!”

⁴⁰They were convinced by what he said. So they called the apostles back in, had them whipped, and ordered them not to say anything in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go.

⁴¹The apostles left the council, happy to be considered worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.

⁴²Every day they continued to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, in the Temple and from house to house.