The Apostles persecuted

Acts 5:17-42, AD34-AD35. Peter’s fourth Sermon and second jailing.

Peter was arrested and put in a public jail.

He was released by God and told to share his faith in Jesus.

Peter was then brought once again in front of the Jewish council.

Background Reading:

The Apostles are Tried before the Jewish Council

5:17 Then the high priest and all those from the sect of the Sadducees who were with him were filled with jealousy. So they went out, 18 arrested the apostles, and put them in the city jail. 19 But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and led them out. The angel told them, 20 “Go, stand in the Temple, and keep on telling the people the whole message about this life they can have.”

21 After the apostles heard this, they went into the Temple at daybreak and began to teach. The high priest and those who were with him arrived, called the Council and all the elders of Israel together, and sent word to the prison to have the men brought in. 22 When the Temple police got there, they did not find them in the prison. They came back 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 When the commander of the Temple guards and the high priests heard these words, they were utterly at a loss as to what could have happened to them.

25 Then someone came and told them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the Temple and teaching the people!” 26 So the commander of the Temple guards went with his men to bring them back without force, because they were afraid of being stoned to death by the people. 27 When they brought them back, they made them stand before the Council,l and the high priest began to question them. 28 He said, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in his name, didn’t we? Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!”

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus to life after you killed him by hanging him on a tree. 31 God has exalted to his right hand this very man as our Leader and Savior in order to extend repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who keep on obeying him.”

33 When the Council heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. 35 Then he told them, “Fellow Israelis, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. 36 For in the recent past Theudas appeared, claiming that he was important, and about 400 men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and disappeared. 37 After that man, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and got people to follow him. He, too, died, and all his followers were scattered.

38 “I’m telling you to keep away from these men for now. Leave them alone, because if this plan or movement is of human origin, it will fail. 39 However, if it’s from God, you won’t be able to stop them, and you may even discover that you are fighting against God!”

So they were convinced by him. 40 After calling in the apostles and beating them, they again ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus and let them go. 41 They left the Council, rejoicing to have been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the Name. 42 Every day in the Temple and from house to house they kept teaching and proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah.
Acts 5:17–42

More Information:

The high priest, his family and associates were members of the party called the Sadducees, and many from this group of Jews were against Jesus and his followers because Jesus was being proclaimed as God’s Son.


Other modules in this unit: