Acts:5:12-42
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And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people .
And they were all with one accord in Solomon '
s Porch .
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Yet none of the rest dared join them ,
but the people esteemed them highly .
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And believers were increasingly added to the Lord ,
multitudes of both men and women ,
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so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches ,
that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them .
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Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem ,
bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits ,
and they were all healed .
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Then the high priest rose up ,
and all those who were with him (
which is the sect of the Sadducees ),
and they were filled with indignation ,
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and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison .
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But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out ,
and said ,
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Go ,
stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life ."
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And when they heard that ,
they entered the temple early in the morning and taught .
But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together ,
with all the elders of the children of Israel ,
and sent to the prison to have them brought .
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But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison ,
they returned and reported ,
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saying , "
Indeed we found the prison shut securely ,
and the guards standing outside before the doors ;
but when we opened them ,
we found no one inside !"
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Now when the high priest ,
the captain of the temple ,
and the chief priests heard these things ,
they wondered what the outcome would be .
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So one came and told them ,
saying , "
Look ,
the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people !"
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Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence ,
for they feared the people ,
lest they should be stoned .
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And when they had brought them ,
they set them before the council .
And the high priest asked them ,
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saying , "
Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name ?
And look ,
you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine ,
and intend to bring this Man '
s blood on us !"
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But Peter and the other apostles answered and said : "
We ought to obey God rather than men .
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The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree .
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Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior ,
to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins .
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And we are His witnesses to these things ,
and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him ."
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When they heard this ,
they were furious and plotted to kill them .
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Then one in the council stood up ,
a Pharisee named Gamaliel ,
a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people ,
and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while .
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And he said to them : "
Men of Israel ,
take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men .
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For some time ago Theudas rose up ,
claiming to be somebody .
A number of men ,
about four hundred ,
joined him .
He was slain ,
and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing .
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After this man ,
Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census ,
and drew away many people after him .
He also perished ,
and all who obeyed him were dispersed .
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And now I say to you ,
keep away from these men and let them alone ;
for if this plan or this work is of men ,
it will come to nothing ;
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but if it is of God ,
you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God ."
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And they agreed with him ,
and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them ,
they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus ,
and let them go .
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So they departed from the presence of the council ,
rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name .
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And daily in the temple ,
and in every house ,
they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ .