Acts 5:17-42

Worldwide English (New Testament)

¹⁷ Some Sadducees were with the high priest. They all became very jealous.

¹⁸ They caught the apostles and put them in prison.

¹⁹ But that night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out.

²⁰ `Go,' said the angel. `Stand in the temple and tell the people all about this new life.'

²¹ When the apostles heard that, they went into the temple early in the morning and taught the people there. The high priest and his men came. They called a meeting of the court and all the leaders of the Jews. Then they sent men to the prison to bring the apostles out.

²² When the men came to the prison, they did not find the apostles there. Then they went back and told the high priest and those with him.

²³ They said, `The prison was locked very well. And the police were guarding the doors. But when we opened the doors, no one was inside.'

²⁴ When the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard this, they did not know what to think. `We wonder what will come from all this,' they thought.

²⁵ Just then someone came and told them, `The men you put in prison are standing in the temple teaching the people.'

²⁶ Then the captain went with the men and brought the apostles quietly. They did not bring them by force because they were afraid the people would kill them with stones.

^27-28 o they brought them in and put them before the court. The high priest asked them, `Did we not tell you that you must never teach again in this name? But here you are, teaching people all over Jerusalem in this name. You are trying to put on us the blame for this man's death.'

²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered them, `We must obey God rather than men.

³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, the one you killed by hanging on a dead tree.

³¹ God has made him great at his right side. He has made him leader and Saviour. He has done this so that the people of Israel may stop doing wrong things and be forgiven.

³² We know these things are true. So does the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.'

³³ When the judges heard this, they were very, very angry and wanted to kill them.

³⁴ Then a lawyer named Gamaliel stood up in the court. He was a Pharisee and all the people respected him. He asked that the apostles be taken out for a while.

³⁵ Then he said, `Men of Israel, you had better take care what you plan to do to these men.

³⁶ Before this time, there was a man named Theudas. He tried to make people believe that he was a great man. He had about four hundred followers. He was killed, and all of his followers were scattered, and the whole thing ended.

³⁷ Then after that, at tax time, another man named Judas from Galilee made trouble. Many people followed him. He also was killed and all of his followers were scattered. 38,

^38-39 o now, I say, do nothing to these men. Leave them alone. If this is the teaching or work of men, it will come to an end. But if it is of God, you cannot stop these men. You might even be fighting against God!'

⁴⁰ They agreed to do what he said. They called in the apostles and had them beaten. They told them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the court. They were very glad to think that God let them be punished for the name of Jesus.

⁴² Every day, in the temple and in homes, they kept on teaching and talking about Jesus Christ.