Acts 5:17-42

New American Standard Bible

Imprisonment and Release

¹⁷ But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is ^(A)the sect of ^(B)the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They laid hands on the apostles and ^(C)put them in a public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(D)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](E)the whole message of this Life.” ²¹ Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple area ^(F)about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when ^(G)the high priest and his associates came, they called ^(H)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 ^(I)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 ^(J)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 ^(K)the captain went along with ^(L)the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^(M)they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

²⁷ When they had brought them, they had them stand ^[e]before ^(N)the Council. The high priest interrogated them, ²⁸ saying, “We gave you ^(O)strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and ^[f]yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^(P)intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “^(Q)We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (R)The God of our fathers ^(S)raised up Jesus, whom you ^(T)put to death by hanging Him on ^[g](U)a cross. ^31 (V)He is the one whom God exalted ^[h]to His right hand as a ^[i](W)Prince and a ^(X)Savior, to grant ^(Y)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are ^(Z)witnesses ^[j]of these things; and ^(AA)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 ^(AB)infuriated and nearly decided to execute them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named ^(AC)Gamaliel, a ^(AD)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^(AE)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, ^(AF)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 ^(AG)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 ^(AH)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 ^(AI)fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ They followed his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they ^(AJ)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](AK)Council, ^(AL)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^(AM)for His name. ^42 (AN)And every day, in the temple and ^[o]from house to house, they did not stop teaching and ^(AO)preaching the good news of Jesus as the ^[p]Christ.