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Acts 5:17-42
King James Version
Acts 5:17-42
King James Version
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,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
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.
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,
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.
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.
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.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
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.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
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.
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.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
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;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
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.
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.
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:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
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.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
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Acts 5:17-42
1599 Geneva Bible
Acts 5:17-42
1599 Geneva Bible
17 ¶ [a]Then the chief Priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which was the [b]sect of the Sadducees) and were full of indignation,
18 And laid hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 [c]But the Angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 [d]Go your way, and stand in the Temple, and speak to the people, all the [e]words of this life.
21 [f]So when they heard it, they entered into the Temple early in the morning, and taught. And the chief Priest came, and they that were with him, and called the Council together, and all the Elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison, to cause them to be brought.
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told it,
23 Saying, Certainly we found the prison shut as sure as was possible, and the keepers standing without, before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
24 Then when the chief Priest and the captain of the Temple, and the high Priests heard these things, they doubted of them, whereunto this would grow.
25 [g]Then came one and showed them, saying, Behold, the men that ye put in prison, are standing in the Temple, and teach the people.
26 [h]Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence (for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.)
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the Council, and the chief Priest asked them,
28 [i]Saying, Did we not straightly command you, that ye should not teach in this name? and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and ye would [j]bring this man’s blood upon us.
29 [k]Then Peter and the Apostles answered, and said, We ought rather to obey God than men.
30 [l]The (A)God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus whom ye slew, and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God lifted up with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 [m]And we are his witnesses concerning these things which we say: yea, and the holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 Now when they heard it, they [n]brast for anger, and consulted to slay them.
34 [o]Then stood there up in the Council a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of the Law, honored of all the people, and commanded to put the Apostles forth a little space,
35 And said unto them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what ye intend to do touching these men.
36 [p]For before these times, rose up Theudas [q]boasting himself, to whom resorted a number of men, about a four hundred, who was slain: and they all which obeyed him were scattered, and brought to naught.
37 After this man, arose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the tribute, and drew away much people after him: he also perished, and all that obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
38 And now I say unto you, [r]Refrain yourselves from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel, or this work be of [s]men, it will come to naught:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot destroy it, lest ye be found even fighters against God.
40 And to him they agreed, and called the Apostles: and when they had beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the Name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 [t]So they departed from the Council, rejoicing, that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his Name.
42 And daily in the [u]Temple, and from house to house they ceased not to teach, and preach Jesus Christ.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 5:17 The more that the Church increaseth, the more increaseth the rage of Satan, and therefore they proceed from threatenings, to prisoning.
- Acts 5:17 The word which is used here, is Heresy, which signifieth a choice, and so is taken for a right form of learning, or faction, or study and course of life, which the Latins call a sect: at the first this word was indifferently used, but at length, it came to be taken only in evil part, whereupon came the name of Heretic, which is taken for one that goeth astray from sound and wholesome doctrine after such sort, that he setteth light by the judgment of God and his Church, and continueth in his opinion, and breaketh the peace of the Church.
- Acts 5:19 Angels are made servants of the servants of God.
- Acts 5:20 God doth therefore deliver his, that they may more stoutly provoke his enemies.
- Acts 5:20 Words, whereby the way unto life is showed.
- Acts 5:21 God mocketh his enemies’ attempts from above.
- Acts 5:25 The more openly that Christ’s virtue showeth itself, the more increaseth the madness of his enemies which conspire against him.
- Acts 5:26 Tyrants which fear not God, are constrained to fear his servants.
- Acts 5:28 It is the property of tyrants to set out their own commandments as right and reason, be they never so wicked.
- Acts 5:28 Make us guilty of murdering, that man whom yet they will not vouchsafe to name.
- Acts 5:29 We ought to obey no man, but so far forth as obeying him, we may obey God.
- Acts 5:30 Christ is appointed and indeed declareth Prince and preserver of his Church in despite of his enemies.
- Acts 5:32 It is not sufficient for us that there is a right end, but we must also according to our vocation go on forward till we come unto it.
- Acts 5:33 This reckoneth that they were in a most vehement rage, and marvelously disquieted in mind, for it is a borrowed kind of speech taken from them which are harrishly cut in sunder with a saw.
- Acts 5:34 Christ findeth defenders of his cause even in the very routs of his enemies, so oft as he thinketh it needful.
- Acts 5:36 In matters of religion we must take good heed that we attempt nothing under a color of zeal, beside our vocation.
- Acts 5:36 To be of some fame.
- Acts 5:38 He dissuadeth his fellows from murdering the Apostles, neither doth he think it good to refer the matter to the Roman Magistrate, for the Jews could abide nothing worse, than to have the tyranny of the Romans confirmed.
- Acts 5:38 If it be counterfeit and devised.
- Acts 5:41 The Apostles, accustomed to suffer and bear words, are at length inured to bear stripes, yet so, that by that means they become stronger.
- Acts 5:42 Both publicly and privately.
Acts 5:17-42
New International Version
Acts 5:17-42
New International Version
The Apostles Persecuted
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party(A) of the Sadducees,(B) were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.(C) 19 But during the night an angel(D) of the Lord opened the doors of the jail(E) and brought them out.(F) 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”(G)
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and his associates(H) arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin(I)—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there.(J) So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests(K) were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people(L) would stone them.
27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin(M) to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”(N) he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”(O)
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!(P) 30 The God of our ancestors(Q) raised Jesus from the dead(R)—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.(S) 31 God exalted him to his own right hand(T) as Prince and Savior(U) that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.(V) 32 We are witnesses of these things,(W) and so is the Holy Spirit,(X) whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were furious(Y) and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,(Z) a teacher of the law,(AA) who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some 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. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census(AB) and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, 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.(AC) 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”(AD)
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged.(AE) Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing(AF) because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.(AG) 42 Day after day, in the temple courts(AH) and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news(AI) that Jesus is the Messiah.(AJ)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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