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).

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 5:20 Or continue to speak
  2. Acts 5:20 Lit all the words
  3. Acts 5:21 Or Sanhedrin
  4. Acts 5:24 Lit this would become

The Apostles Meet Opposition

17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”

21 So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching.

When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council[a]—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial. 22 But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, 23 “The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”

24 When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. 25 Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”

26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.

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Footnotes

  1. 5:21 Greek Sanhedrin; also in 5:27, 41.