“We Must Obey God”

¹⁷Then the high priest and all his associates, who were of the sect of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with indignation. ¹⁸They arrested the apostles and threw them into the public jail. ¹⁹But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, led them out, and said, ²⁰Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life. ²¹They obeyed, entering the temple at daybreak and beginning to teach. Meanwhile, the high priest and his associates convened the full council — the entire senate of Israel — and sent officers to the prison to bring the apostles before them. ²²But when the officers arrived at the jail, the apostles were gone. They went back and reported, ²³"We found the prison securely locked, with the guards standing at their posts in front of the doors. But when we opened them, no one was inside!" ²⁴When the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard this, they were completely baffled, wondering where this would all lead. ²⁵Then someone arrived with news: "The men you locked up are standing in the temple, teaching the people!" ²⁶So the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles back — but without force, because they were afraid the crowd might stone them. ²⁷They brought them in and set them before the council. The high priest asked them, ²⁸saying, "Didn't we give you strict orders not to teach in this name? Yet you've filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us!" ²⁹Peter and the other apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than people. ³⁰The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you killed by hanging on a tree. ³¹God exalted him to his right hand as a Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³²We are witnesses to all of this, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to everyone who obeys him." ³³When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and discussed how to kill them. ³⁴But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the council. He was a respected teacher of the law, honored by all the people. He ordered the apostles to be taken outside for a moment. ³⁵Then he addressed the council: "Men of Israel, think carefully about what you're planning to do with these men. ³⁶Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important. About 400 men rallied behind him. But he was killed, and all his followers scattered and disappeared. ³⁷After him, Judas of Galilee came along during the time of the census and attracted a following. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸So my advice is this: stay away from these men and leave them alone. If what they're planning and doing is merely human, it will collapse on its own. ³⁹But if it is from God, you won't be able to stop them. You'll only find yourselves fighting against God." ⁴⁰The council was persuaded. They called the apostles back in, had them beaten, ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. ⁴¹The apostles left the council overjoyed that they had been considered worthy to suffer disgrace for his name. ⁴²Every day, both in the temple and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ.