Acts 5:17-42

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of q the Sadducees), and filled with r jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and s put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night t an angel of the Lord u opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all v the words of w this x Life."

21 And when they heard this, y they entered the temple z at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of the people of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 "We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside." 24 Now when a the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison b are standing in the temple and teaching the people." 26 Then c the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for d they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, e "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you f intend to bring this man's blood upon us." 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, g "We must obey God rather than men. 30 h The God of our fathers i raised Jesus, j whom you killed by hanging him on k a tree. 31 God exalted l him at his right hand as m Leader and n Savior, o to give p repentance to Israel and o forgiveness of sins. 32 And q we are witnesses to these things, and r so is the Holy Spirit, s whom God has given to those who obey him."

33 When they heard this, they t were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named u Gamaliel, v a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For w before these days Theudas rose up, x claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of y the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for z if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but a if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You b might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice, 40 and c when they had called in the apostles, d they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, e rejoicing that they were counted worthy f to suffer dishonor for g the name. 42 And every day, h in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and i preaching j Jesus as the Christ.

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 22:23
    The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question.
  2. Cross References
    Acts 13:45
    But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.
    James 3:14
    But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
    James 3:16
    For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
    Acts 7:9
    And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him
    Acts 17:5
    But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
  3. Cross References
    Luke 21:12
    But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.
  4. Cross References
    Acts 8:26
    Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.
  5. Cross References
    Acts 12:10
    When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.
    Acts 16:26
    And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.
  6. Cross References
    John 6:63
    It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
    John 6:68
    Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
    Philippians 2:16
    Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
  7. Cross References
    Acts 13:46
    And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
    Acts 22:4
    I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women.
    Acts 28:28
    Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.
  8. Cross References
    Acts 3:15
    And you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
    Acts 11:18
    When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.
  9. Cross References
    Acts 5:25
    And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.
    Acts 5:42
    And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
  10. Cross References
    John 8:2
    Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.
  11. Cross References
    Acts 5:26
    Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
    Acts 4:1
    And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them.
  12. Cross References
    Acts 5:21
    And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of the people of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.
  13. Cross References
    Acts 5:24
    Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
  14. Cross References
    Acts 5:13
    None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
    Acts 4:21
    And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
  15. Cross References
    Acts 4:18
    So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
  16. Cross References
    Acts 2:23
    This Jesus, delivered up according to the defin...
    Acts 2:36
    Let all the house of Israel therefore know for ...
    Acts 3:15
    And you killed the Author of life, whom God rai...
    Acts 4:10
    Let it be known to all of you and to all the pe...
    Acts 7:52
    Which of the prophets did your fathers not pers...
    Matthew 27:25
    And all the people answered, "His blood be on u...
  17. Cross References
    Acts 4:19 - 20
    But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge.
  18. Cross References
    Acts 3:13
    The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
  19. Cross References
    Acts 2:24
    God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
  20. Cross References
    Acts 10:39
    And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.
    Galatians 3:13
    Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree" -
    Luke 24:20
    And how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
  21. Cross References
    Acts 13:29
    And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.
    1 Peter 2:24
    He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
  22. Cross References
    Acts 2:33
    Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
  23. Cross References
    Acts 3:15
    And you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
  24. Cross References
    Luke 2:11
    For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
  25. Cross References
    Luke 24:47
    And that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
    Luke 5:32
    I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
  26. Cross References
    Luke 24:47
    And that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
    Luke 5:32
    I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
  27. Cross References
    Acts 11:18
    When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.
    2 Timothy 2:25
    Correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
    Romans 2:4
    Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
  28. Cross References
    Luke 24:48
    You are witnesses of these things.
  29. Cross References
    Acts 15:28
    For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:
    John 15:26 - 27
    But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
    Hebrews 2:4
    While God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
    1 John 5:7
    For there are three that testify:
  30. Cross References
    Acts 2:4
    And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
  31. Cross References
    Acts 7:54
    Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
    Acts 2:37
    Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?
  32. Cross References
    Acts 22:3
    I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
  33. Cross References
    Luke 5:17
    On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
  34. Cross References
    Acts 21:38
    Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?
  35. Cross References
    Acts 8:9
    But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.
    Galatians 2:6
    And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) - those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
    Galatians 6:3
    For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
  36. Cross References
    Luke 2:2
    This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
  37. Cross References
    Lamentations 3:37
    Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?
  38. Cross References
    Proverbs 21:30
    No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.
    Isaiah 8:9 - 10
    Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered.
    Nahum 1:9
    What do you plot against the Lord ? He will make a complete end; trouble will not rise up a second time.
  39. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 13:12
    Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.
    Acts 11:17
    If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?
  40. Cross References
    Acts 4:18
    So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
  41. Cross References
    Acts 22:19
    And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.
    Mark 13:9
    But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.
    Luke 23:16
    I will therefore punish and release him.
  42. Cross References
    1 Peter 4:13 - 14
    But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
    1 Peter 4:16
    Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
    Matthew 5:12
    Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
  43. Cross References
    Acts 9:16
    For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.
    Acts 21:13
    Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
    Romans 1:5
    Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.
    John 15:21
    But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
  44. Cross References
    Leviticus 24:11
    And the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.
    Leviticus 24:16
    Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
    Philippians 2:9
    Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.
    3 John 1:7
    For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
  45. Cross References
    Acts 2:46
    And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.
  46. Cross References
    Acts 8:35
    Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
    Acts 11:20
    But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
    Acts 17:18
    Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities" - because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
  47. Cross References
    Acts 18:5
    When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.