Acts 5:22-42 ▼

22 and the officers having come, did not find them in the prison, and having turned back, they told,

23 saying, “We indeed found the prison shut in all safety, and the keepers standing outside before the doors, and having opened—we found no one within.”

24 And as the priest, and the magistrate of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these words, they were doubting concerning them to what this would come;

25 and coming near, a certain one told them, saying, “Behold, the men whom you put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people”;

26 then the magistrate having gone away with officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned;

27 and having brought them, they set [them] in the Sanhedrin, and the chief priest questioned them,

28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this Name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring on us the blood of this Man.”

29 And Peter and the apostles answering, said, “It is required to obey God, rather than men;

30 and the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew, having hanged on a tree;

31 this One, God, a Prince and a Savior, has exalted with His right hand, to give conversion to Israel, and forgiveness of sins;

32 and we are His witnesses of these sayings, and the Holy Spirit also, whom God gave to those obeying Him.”

33 And they having heard, were cut [to the heart], and were intending to slay them,

34 but a certain one, having risen up in the Sanhedrin—a Pharisee, by name Gamaliel, a teacher of law honored by all the people—commanded to put the apostles forth a little,

35 and said to them, “Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves about these men, what you are about to do,

36 for before these days Theudas rose up, saying that he was someone, to whom a number of men joined themselves, as it were four hundred, who was slain, and all, as many as were obeying him, were scattered, and came to nothing.

37 After this one, Judas the Galilean rose up, in the days of the census, and drew away people after him, and that one perished, and all, as many as were obeying him, were scattered;

38 and now I say to you, refrain from these men, and leave them alone, because if this counsel or this work may be of men, it will be overthrown,

39 and if it be of God, you are not able to overthrow it, lest perhaps you are also found fighting against God.”

40 And to him they agreed, and having called near the apostles, having beaten [them], they commanded [them] not to speak in the Name of Jesus, and let them go;

41 they, indeed, then, departed from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that for His Name they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor,

42 also every day in the temple, and in every house, they were not ceasing teaching and proclaiming good news—Jesus the Christ.