Acts 5:18-41

New American Standard Bible

¹⁸ They laid hands on the apostles and ^(A)put them in a public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(B)an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and leading them out, he said, ²⁰ “Go, stand and ^[a]speak to the people in the temple area ^[b](C)the whole message of this Life.” ²¹ Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple area ^(D)about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when ^(E)the high priest and his associates came, they called ^(F)the ^[c]Council together, that is, all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison for them to be brought. ²² But ^(G)the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported, ²³ saying, “We found the prison locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when ^(H)the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ^[d]would come of this. ²⁵ But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple area and teaching the people!” ²⁶ Then ^(I)the captain went along with ^(J)the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^(K)they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

²⁷ When they had brought them, they had them stand ^[e]before ^(L)the Council. The high priest interrogated them, ²⁸ saying, “We gave you ^(M)strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and ^[f]yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^(N)intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “^(O)We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (P)The God of our fathers ^(Q)raised up Jesus, whom you ^(R)put to death by hanging Him on ^[g](S)a cross. ^31 (T)He is the one whom God exalted ^[h]to His right hand as a ^[i](U)Prince and a ^(V)Savior, to grant ^(W)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are ^(X)witnesses ^[j]of these things; and ^(Y)so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

³³ But when they heard this, they became ^(Z)infuriated and nearly decided to execute them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named ^(AA)Gamaliel, a ^(AB)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^(AC)the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For, some time ago Theudas appeared, ^(AD)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined him. ^[k]But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee appeared in the days of ^(AE)the census and drew away some people after him; he also perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, for if the source of this plan or ^[l]movement ^(AF)is men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found ^(AG)fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ They followed his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they ^(AH)flogged them and ordered them not to ^[m]speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. ⁴¹ So they went on their way from the presence of the ^[n](AI)Council, ^(AJ)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^(AK)for His name.