*Acts 5:17-42
Arrested for preaching, the apostles are freed by an angel and defiantly return to teaching about Jesus.
- The Apostles Arrested and Freed:
- The high priest and his associates, who are Sadducees, are filled with jealousy and arrest the apostles, placing them in the public jail.
- An angel of the Lord opens the prison doors during the night and brings them out, instructing them to go to the temple courts and continue teaching the people about the new life in Jesus.
- The apostles obey and start teaching in the temple courts at daybreak.
- The Apostles on Trial Again:
- When the high priest and his council gather and send for the apostles in jail, they find them missing and later learn they are teaching in the temple.
- The apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin without violence, as the guards fear the people might stone them.
- The high priest questions them, accusing them of intending to bring Jesus’ blood upon them, despite being previously ordered not to teach in His name.
- Peter and the apostles respond, “We must obey God rather than human beings,” asserting that God raised Jesus, whom they had killed by hanging him on a cross.
- Gamaliel’s Advice:
- A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a respected law teacher, advises caution and tolerance toward the apostles.
- He references past movements that failed after their leaders died and suggests that if this movement is of human origin, it will fail, but if it is from God, they will not be able to stop it and may even find themselves fighting against God.
- The council is persuaded by Gamaliel, has the apostles flogged, orders them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then releases them.
- The Apostles’ Reaction:
- The apostles leave the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they were counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
- Despite the warnings and the beating, they continue to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Messiah every day in the temple courts and from house to house.
5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
5:21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
5:22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told, 5:23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
5:24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
5:25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 5:35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
5:36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
5:37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.