5. READ: ACTS 5:17-42
[Acts 5:17] "Then the high priest and all his
associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were
filled with jealousy. [18] They arrested the apostles and put them
in the public jail. [19] But during the night an angel of the Lord
opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. [20] 'Go,
stand in the temple courts,' he said, 'and tell the
people the full message of this new life.'
[21] "At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as
they had been told, and began to teach the people.
"When the high priest and his associates arrived, they
called together the Sanhedrin--the full assembly of the elders
of Israel--and sent to the jail for the apostles. [22] But on
arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they
went back and reported, [23] 'We found the jail securely
locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened
them, we found no one inside.' [24] On hearing this report,
the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled,
wondering what would come of this.
[25] "Then someone came and said, 'Look! The men
you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the
people.' [26] At that, the captain went with his officers and
brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared
that the people would stone them.
[27] "Having brought the apostles, they made them
appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.
[28] 'We gave you strict orders not to teach in this
Name,' he said. 'Yet you have filled Jerusalem with
your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this
man's blood.'
[29] "Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must
obey God rather than men! [30] The God of our fathers raised Jesus
from the dead--Whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.
[31] God exalted Him to His Own right hand as Prince and Savior
that He might give 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 obey Him.'
[33] "When they heard this, they were furious and
wanted to put them to death. [34] But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a
teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in
the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little
while. [35] Then he addressed them: 'Men of Israel, consider
carefully what you intend to do to these men. [36] Some time ago
Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred
men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were
dispersed, and it all came to nothing. [37] After him, Judas the
Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of
people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were
scattered. [38] Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave
these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is
of human origin, it will fail. [39] But if it is from God, you will
not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves
fighting against God.'
[40] "His speech persuaded them. 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.
[41] "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing
because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the
Name. [42] Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to
house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News
that Jesus is the Christ [or,
"Messiah"]."
a. What did the apostles tell the full message of?
b. What name did they teach in?
c. Why did they rejoice when leaving the Sanhedrin?
