³ They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail^(A) until the next day. ⁴ But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew^(B) to about five thousand.

⁵ The next day the rulers,^(C) the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas,^(D) John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. ⁷ They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,^(E) said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!^{(F) 9} If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame^(G) and are being asked how he was healed, ¹⁰ then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,^(H) whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,^(I) that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ Jesus is

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”^(K)

¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John^(L) and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,^(M) they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.^{(N) 14} But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. ¹⁵ So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin^(O) and then conferred together. ¹⁶ “What are we going to do with these men?”^(P) they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,^(Q) and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

¹⁸ Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.^(R)

¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.^{(A) 19} But during the night an angel^(B) of the Lord opened the doors of the jail^(C) and brought them out.^{(D) 20} “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”^(E)

²¹ At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associates^(F) arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin^(G)—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. ²² But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there.^(H) So they went back and reported, ²³ “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests^(I) were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

²⁵ Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” ²⁶ At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people^(J) would stone them.

²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin^(K) to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”^(L) he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”^(M)

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!^{(N) 30} The God of our ancestors^(O) raised Jesus from the dead^(P)—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.^{(Q) 31} God exalted him to his own right hand^(R) as Prince and Savior^(S) that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.^{(T) 32} We are witnesses of these things,^(U) and so is the Holy Spirit,^(V) whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they were furious^(W) and wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,^(X) a teacher of the law,^(Y) who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁵ Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census^(Z) and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸ Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.^{(AA) 39} But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”^(AB)

⁴⁰ His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged.^(AC) Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing^(AD) because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.^{(AE) 42} Day after day, in the temple courts^(AF) and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news^(AG) that Jesus is the Messiah.^(AH)

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

12 It was about this time that King Herod^(A) arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John,^(B) put to death with the sword.^{(C) 3} When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews,^(D) he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.^{(E) 4} After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.^(F)

⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.^(G)

⁶ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains,^(H) and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷ Suddenly an angel^(I) of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.^(J)

⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹ Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.^{(K) 10} They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself,^(L) and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

¹¹ Then Peter came to himself^(M) and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me^(N) from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark,^(O) where many people had gathered and were praying.^{(P) 13} Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.^{(Q) 14} When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed^(R) she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

¹⁵ “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”^(S)

¹⁶ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand^(T) for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James^(U) and the other brothers and sisters^(V) about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

¹⁸ In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.^(W)

Herod’s Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea^(X) and stayed there.

John’s Vision of Christ

⁹ I, John,^(A) your brother and companion in the suffering^(B) and kingdom^(C) and patient endurance^(D) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God^(E) and the testimony of Jesus.^(F)