Acts 5:22–42

²²and the officers having come, did not find them in the prison, and having turned back, they told, ²³saying—‘The prison indeed we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors, and having opened—within we found no one.’ ²⁴And 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; ²⁵and coming near, a certain one told them, saying—‘Lo, the men whom ye did put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people;’

²⁶Then the magistrate having gone away with officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned; ²⁷and having brought them, they set them in the sanhedrim, and the chief priest questioned them, ²⁸saying, ‘Did not we strictly command you not to teach in this name? and lo, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and ye intend to bring upon us the blood of this man.’ ²⁹And Peter and the apostles answering, said, ‘To obey God it behoveth, rather than men; ³⁰and the God of our fathers did raise up Jesus, whom ye slew, having hanged upon a tree; ³¹this one God, a Prince and a Saviour, hath exalted with His right hand, to give reformation to Israel, and forgiveness of sins; ³²and we are His witnesses of these sayings, and the Holy Spirit also, whom God gave to those obeying him.’ ³³And they having heard, were cut to the heart, and were taking counsel to slay them, ³⁴but a certain one, having risen up in the sanhedrim—a Pharisee, by name Gamaliel, a teacher of law honoured by all the people—commanded to put the apostles forth a little, ³⁵and said unto them, ‘Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves about these men, what ye are about to do, ³⁶for before these days rose up Theudas, saying, that himself was some one, to whom a number of men did join themselves, as it were four hundred, who was slain, and all, as many as were obeying him, were scattered, and came to nought.

³⁷‘After this one rose up, Judas the Galilean, in the days of the enrolment, and drew away much people after him, and that one perished, and all, as many as were obeying him, were scattered; ³⁸and now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone, because if this counsel or this work may be of men, it will be overthrown, ³⁹and if it be of God, ye are not able to overthrow it, lest perhaps also ye be found fighting against God.’ ⁴⁰And 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; ⁴¹they, indeed, then, departed from the presence of the sanhedrim, rejoicing that for his name they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour, ⁴²every day also in the temple, and in every house, they were not ceasing teaching and proclaiming good news—Jesus the Christ.

Chapter 6