Acts 5:19-32

¹⁹An angel of the Lord, however, opened the prison doors at night and led them out.

²⁰“Go,” he said, “and stand in the Temple Courts, and tell the people the whole message of this new life.”

²¹When they heard this, they went at daybreak into the Temple Courts, and began to teach. The high priest and his party, on their arrival, summoned the High Council, including all the leaders of the people among the Israelites, and sent to the jail to fetch the apostles.

²²But, when the officers got there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported that,

²³while they had found the goal barred securely and the guards posted at the doors, yet, on opening them, they had not found anyone inside.

²⁴When the officer in charge at the Temple and the chief priests heard their story, they were perplexed about the apostles and as to what all this would lead to.

²⁵Presently, however, someone came and told them, that the men whom they had put in prison were actually standing in the Temple Courts, teaching the people.

²⁶Then, the officer went with his men and fetched the apostles — without using violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people —

²⁷And then brought them before the Council. The high priest demanded an explanation from them.

²⁸“We gave you strict orders,” he said, “not to teach in this name. Yet you have actually flooded Jerusalem with your teaching, and you want to make us responsible for the death of this man.”

²⁹To this Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.

³⁰The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a cross.

³¹It is this Jesus whom God has exalted to his right hand, to be a guide and a Savior, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.

³²And we are witness to the truth of this, and so is the Holy Spirit — the gift of God to those who obey him.”