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But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of 1the Sadducees), and filled with 2jealousy
18
they arrested the apostles and 3put them in the public prison.
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But during the night 4an angel of the Lord 5opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
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"Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all 6the words of 7this 8Life."
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And when they heard this, 9they entered the temple 10at 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.
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But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,
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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 11the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
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And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison 12are standing in the temple and teaching the people."
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Then 13the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for 14they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
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And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,
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saying, 15"We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you 16intend to bring this man's blood upon us."
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But Peter and the apostles answered, 17"We must obey God rather than men.
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18The God of our fathers 19raised Jesus, 20whom you killed by hanging him on 21a tree.
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God exalted 22him at his right hand as 23Leader and 24Savior, 25to give 26repentance to Israel and 27forgiveness of sins.
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And 28we are witnesses to these things, and 29so is the Holy Spirit, 30whom God has given to those who obey him."
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When they heard this, they 31were enraged and wanted to kill them.
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But a Pharisee in the council named 32Gamaliel, 33a 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.
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And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.
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For 34before these days Theudas rose up, 35claiming 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.
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After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of 36the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all 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 37if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;
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but 38if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You 39might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice,
40
and 40when they had called in the apostles, 41they beat them and charged 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, 42rejoicing that they were counted worthy 43to suffer dishonor for 44the name.
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And every day, 45in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and 46preaching 47Jesus as the Christ.