Acts 5:12-26

12At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders (attesting miracles) were continually taking place among the people. And by common consent they all met together [at the temple] in [the covered porch called] Solomon’s portico.

13But none of the rest [of the people, the non-believers] dared to associate with them; however, the people were holding them in high esteem and were speaking highly of them.

14More and more believers in the Lord, crowds of men and women, were constantly being added to their number,

15to such an extent that they even carried their sick out into the streets and put them on cots and sleeping pads, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on one of them [with healing power].

16And the people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

17But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy and resentment.

18They arrested the apostles and put them in a public jail.

19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and leading them out, he said,

20“Go, stand and continue to tell the people in the temple [courtyards] the whole message of this Life [the eternal life revealed by Christ and found through faith in Him].”

21When they heard this, they went into the temple [courtyards] about daybreak and began teaching. Now when the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), even all the council of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent word to the prison for the apostles to be brought [before them].

22But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison; and they came back and reported,

23“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened [the doors], we found no one inside.”

24Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these things, they were greatly perplexed, wondering what would come of this.

25But someone came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing [right here] in the temple [area], teaching the people!”

26Then the captain went with the officers and brought them back, without hurting them (because they were afraid of the people, worried that they might be stoned).