Acts 5:28-42
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
28 “We gave you strict orders [did we not?] to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”(A) 29 But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men.(B) 30 [a]The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,(C) though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand[b] as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.(D) 32 We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.”(E)
33 When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death. 34 [c]But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the men to be put outside for a short time,(F) 35 and said to them, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men. 36 [d]Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing. 37 After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered. 38 So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. 39 But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. 40 After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.(G) 41 So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.(H) 42 And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.(I)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 5:30 Hanging him on a tree: that is, crucifying him (cf. also Gal 3:13).
- 5:31 At his right hand: see note on Acts 2:33.
- 5:34 Gamaliel: in Acts 22:3, Paul identifies himself as a disciple of this Rabbi Gamaliel I who flourished in Jerusalem between A.D. 25 and 50.
- 5:36–37 Gamaliel offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles it will perish by itself. The movement initiated by Theudas actually occurred when C. Cuspius Fadus was governor, A.D. 44–46. Luke’s placing of Judas the Galilean after Theudas and at the time of the census (see note on Lk 2:1–2) is an indication of the vagueness of his knowledge of these events.
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