Book of Common Prayer

^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.

³⁷ Jesus taught in the temple every day. But at night he went out and stayed on the hill called the Mount of Olives.

³⁸ Early in the morning all the people came to hear him in the temple.

22 It was near the time for the feast with bread that has no yeast in it. This is called the Passover Feast.

² The chief priests and the scribes planned how to kill Jesus. But they feared the people.

³ Satan came into the heart of Judas. Judas was one of the twelve disciples. His other name was Iscariot.

⁴ Judas went away and talked things over with the chief priests and captains. He told them how he could help them catch Jesus.

⁵ They were glad, and they said they would give him money for it.

⁶ He agreed. He watched for a good way to help them catch Jesus when there were not too many people around.

⁷ It was the day of the feast with bread that has no yeast in it. The sheep had to be killed for the Passover Feast,

⁸ So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying to them, `Go and get the Passover Feast ready for us to eat.'

⁹ They asked, `Where do you want us to get it ready?'

¹⁰ He said, `When you go into the city, a man carrying a pot of water will meet you. Follow him into the house where he goes.

¹¹ Tell the master of the house, "The Teacher says, `Where is the room where I can eat the Passover Feast with my disciples?' "

¹² He will show you a large room upstairs. It will be all fixed up. Make it ready there.'

¹³ So they went and found everything just the way Jesus had said. Then they made the Passover food ready.