Acts:5:12-42
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Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles .
And they were all together in Solomon '
s Porch .
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None of the rest dared join them ,
but the people held them in high honor .
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And all the more believers in the Lord ,
multitudes of men and women ,
were constantly added to their number ,
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so that they even carried out the sick into the streets ,
and laid them on beds and pallets ,
so that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them .
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The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem ,
bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits ,
and they were all healed .
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But the high priest rose up and all who were with him ,
that is ,
the party of the Sadducees ,
and they were filled with jealousy .
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They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail .
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But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison ,
and brought them out ,
and said ,
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Go ,
stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life .«
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And when they heard this ,
they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach .
Now when the high priest and his associates came ,
they called the Council together ,
even all the Senate of the sons of Israel ,
and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought .
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But when the officers came ,
they did not find them in the prison ,
and they returned and reported back ,
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We found the prison securely locked ,
and the guards standing at the doors ;
but when we opened them ,
we found no one inside .«
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Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words ,
they were much perplexed about them ,
wondering what would come of this .
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And someone came and told them , »
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 along with the officers and brought them back without violence ,
for they were afraid of the people ,
that they might be stoned .
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When they had brought them ,
they set them before the council .
The high priest questioned them ,
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saying , »
We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name ,
and yet ,
you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man '
s blood upon us .«
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But Peter and the apostles answered , »
We must obey God rather than men .
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The God of our fathers raised Jesus
whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree .
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God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior ,
to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel .
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We are witnesses of these things ,
and so 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 wanted to kill them .
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But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel ,
a teacher of the law ,
held in honor by all the people ,
stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while .
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And he said to them , »
Men of Israel ,
take care what you propose to do with these men .
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For some time ago Theudas rose up ,
claiming to be somebody ,
and a group of about four hundred men joined him .
But he was killed ,
and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing .
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After this man ,
Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him ;
he too perished ,
and all those who followed him were scattered .
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So in the present case I tell you ,
keep away from these men and let them alone ,
for if this plan or action is of men ,
it will fail ;
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but if it is of God ,
you will not be able to overthrow them ;
or else you may even be found fighting against God .«
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So they took his advice ,
and they called the apostles in and had them flogged .
Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus ,
and let them go .
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Then they left the presence of the council ,
rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name .
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And every day ,
in the temple and from house to house ,
they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ .
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