Acts 5:22-40

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.”

³³The members of the Council became frantic with rage on hearing this, and were for putting the apostles to death.

³⁴But Gamaliel, a Pharisee, who was a Doctor of the Law and who was held in universal respect, rose in the Council, and directed that the men should be taken out of court for a little while.

³⁵He then said, “People of Israel, take care as to what you intend to do with these men.

³⁶For not long ago Theudas appeared, professing to be somebody, and was joined by a body of some four hundred men. But he was killed; and all his followers scattered and dwindled away.

³⁷After him, Judas the Galilean appeared at the time of the census, and induced people to follow him; Yet he, too, perished and all his followers were dispersed.

³⁸And, in this present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these men, but to leave them alone, for, if their designs and their work are merely of human origin, they will come to an end;

³⁹but, if they are of divine origin, you will be powerless to put an end to them — or else you may find yourselves fighting against God!”

⁴⁰The Council followed his advice, and, calling the apostles in, had them flogged, and then, after cautioning them not to speak in the name of Jesus, set them free.