Acts 5:19-32

¹⁹But an angel of the Lord during the night 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.”

²¹And when they heard that, they entered the temple about daybreak and were teaching. Now when the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council, even all the elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison for them to be brought.

²²But when the attendants arrived, and did not find them in the jail, they returned and announced,

²³saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut in all security, and the guards standing before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

²⁴Now when they heard these words, both the high priest and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests, they were greatly perplexed about them, as to what would come of this.

²⁵So one came and reported to them, saying, “Behold, the men whom you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

²⁶Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned.

²⁷And they brought them, and set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,

²⁸saying, “Did we not give you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you want to bring on us the blood of this Man!”

²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered, and said: “We 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 His witnesses of these words, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”