Acts 5:27–38

²⁷The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin^f to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”^g he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”^h

²⁹Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!^{i 30}The God of our ancestors^j raised Jesus from the dead^k—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.^{l 31}God exalted him to his own right hand^m as Prince and Saviorⁿ that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.^{o 32}We are witnesses of these things,^p and so is the Holy Spirit,^q whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³When they heard this, they were furious^r and wanted to put them to death. ³⁴But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,^s a teacher of the law,^t who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁵Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ³⁷After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census^u and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.^v