Acts 5:22-42 ▼

22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report:

23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.

24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening \as to what this might be/.

25 Then someone came in and announced, “Look (Behold), the men you⁺ put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching {didaskontes} the people!

26 At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.

27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin (the Council), where the high priest interrogated them.

28 “We gave you⁺ strict orders not to teach {didaskein} in this name, he said. “Yet you⁺ have filled Jerusalem (city of peace) with your⁺ teaching {didachēs} and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.

29 But Peter (rock) and the other apostles (sent ones) replied, “We must obey God {Theō} rather than men.

30 The God {Theos} of our fathers {paterōn} raised up Jesus (YHWH saves), whom you⁺ had killed by hanging Him on a tree.

31 God {Theos} exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior {Sōtēra}, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel (He wrestles with God).

32 We are witnesses of these things {rhēmatōn}, and so is the Holy Spirit {Hagion Pneuma}, whom God {Theos} has given to those who obey Him.

33 When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved [they took counsel] to put the apostles to death.

34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel (my reward is God), a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin (the Council) and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.

35 “Men of Israel (He wrestles with God), he said, “consider carefully what you⁺ are about to do to these men.

36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.

37 After him, Judas (praise) the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.

38 So in the present case I advise you⁺: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.

39 But if it is from God {Theou}, you⁺ will not be able to stop them. You⁺ may even find yourselves fighting against God {theomachoi}.

40 At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus (YHWH saves), and released them.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin (the Council), rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name {Onomatos}.

42 Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching {didaskontes} and proclaiming the good news that Jesus (YHWH saves) is the Christ (the Anointed One).