Acts 5:12–32
12 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles.q They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade.r 13 No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them.s 14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. 15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadowt might fall on some of them. 16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
17 Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.u 18 So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.v 19 But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,w 20 “Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.”x 21 Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
THE APOSTLES ON TRIAL AGAIN
When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full council of the Israelites—and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.a 22 But when the servants* got there, they did not find them in the jail; so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 AsB the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this.
25 Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.b 27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28 “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name?c Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”d
29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus,e whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree.f 31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.g 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirith whom God has given to those who obey him.”