The apostles did many signs and miracles among the people. And they would all meet together on Solomon's Porch.

   The High Priest and his relatives and friends among the Sadducees reacted with violent jealousy and arrested the apostles, and put them in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail and brought them out. Then he told them, "Go over to the temple and preach about this Life!"

   When the police captain and the chief priests heard this, they were frantic, wondering what would happen next and where all this would end! Then someone arrived with the news that the men they had jailed were out in the temple, preaching to the people!

   The police captain went with his officers and arrested them (without violence, for they were afraid the people would kill them if they roughed up the disciples) and brought them in before the Council.

   "Didn't we tell you never again to preach about this Jesus?" the High Priest demanded. "And instead you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring the blame for this man's death on us!"

   But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors brought Jesus back to life again after you had killed Him by hanging Him on a cross. Then, with mighty power, God exalted Him to be a Prince and Savior, so that the people of Israel would have an opportunity for repentance, and for their sins to be forgiven. And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, Who is given by God to all who obey Him."

   At this, the Council was furious, and decided to kill them.

   But one of their members, a Pharisee named Gamaliel (an expert on religious law and very popular with the people), stood up and requested that the apostles be sent outside the Council chamber while he talked. Then he addressed his colleagues as follows:

   ". . . and so my advice is, leave these men alone. If what they teach and do is merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them, lest you find yourselves fighting even against God."

Taken from Acts 3, 5, The Everyday Bible and The Living Bible. For free Lifescope book,
write to Box 1575, Carlsbad, NM 88221. Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.