Acts 5:22-42 ▼

22 But when the officers came, & found them not in the prison, they returned and tolde it,

23 Saying, Certainely we founde the prison shut as sure as was possible, and the keepers standing without, before the doores: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

24 Then when the chiefe Priest, and the captaine of the Temple, and the hie Priestes heard these things, they doubted of them, whereunto this would growe.

25 Then came one and shewed them, saying, Beholde, the men that ye put in prison, are standing in the Temple, and teach the people.

26 Then went the captaine with the officers, and brought them without violence (for they feared the people, lest they should haue bene stoned)

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the Councill, & the chiefe Priest asked them,

28 Saying, Did not we straightly commaund you, that ye should not teach in this Name? & behold, ye haue filled Hierusale with your doctrine, and ye would bring this mans blood vpon vs.

29 Then Peter and the Apostles answered, & sayd, We ought rather to obey God then men.

30 The God of our fathers hath raised vp Iesus, whom ye slewe, and hanged on a tree.

31 Him hath God lift vp with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Sauiour, to giue repentance to Israel, and forgiuenes of sinnes.

32 And we are his witnesses concerning these things which we say: yea, & the holy Ghost, whome God hath giuen to them that obey him.

33 Now when they heard it, they brast for anger, and consulted to slay them.

34 Then stoode there vp in the Councill a certaine Pharise named Gamaliel, a doctour of the Lawe, honoured of all the people, and commaunded to put the Apostles forth a litle space,

35 And sayd vnto them, Men of Israel, take heede to your selues, what ye intende to doe touching these men.

36 For before these times, rose vp Theudas boasting himselfe, to whom resorted a number of men, about a foure hundreth, who was slaine: and they all which obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

37 After this man, arose vp Iudas of Galile, in the dayes of the tribute, and drewe away much people after him: hee also perished, and all that obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

38 And nowe I say vnto you, Refraine your selues from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsell, or this worke be of men, it will come to nought:

39 But if it be of God, ye can not destroy it, lest ye be found euen fighters against God.

40 And to him they agreed, and called the Apostles: and when they had beaten them, they commaunded that they should not speake in the Name of Iesus, and let them goe.

41 So they departed from the Councill, reioycing, that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his Name.

42 And dayly in the Temple, & from house to house they ceased not to teach, and preach Iesus Christ.