Acts 5:17-32

New King James Version

Imprisoned Apostles Freed

¹⁷^(A)Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with ^[a]indignation, ¹⁸^(B)and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹But at night ^(C)an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people ^(D)all the words of this life.”

²¹And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. ^(E)But the high priest and those with him came and called the ^[b]council together, with all the ^[c]elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

Apostles on Trial Again

²²But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, ²³saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing ^[d]outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” ²⁴Now when ^[e]the high priest, ^(F)the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. ²⁵So one came and told them, ^[f]saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

²⁶Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, ^(G)for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. ²⁷And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸saying, ^(H)“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, ^(I)and intend to bring this Man’s ^(J)blood on us!”

²⁹But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ^(K)“We ought to obey God rather than men. ³⁰^(L)The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by ^(M)hanging on a tree. ³¹^(N)Him God has exalted to His right hand to be ^(O)Prince and ^(P)Savior, ^(Q)to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³²And ^(R)we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit ^(S)whom God has given to those who obey Him.”