Acts 4:1‑21• 1Now as they were speaking unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them
2being distressed because of their teaching the people, and announcing in Jesus the resurrection from [the] dead;
3and they laid hands on them and put them in ward unto the morrow, for it was already evening.
4But many of those that heard the word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand.
5And it came to pass on the morrow that their rulers and elders and scribes
6were gathered together at Jerusalem, and Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of high priestly lineage,
7and having set them in the midst they enquired, By what power, or in what name, did ye this?
8Then Peter, filled with [the] Holy Spirit, said unto them, Rulers of the people and elders [of Israel],
9if we today are examined as to a good deed done to an infirm man, whereby he hath been cured,
10be it known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from [the] dead, in him he standeth before you whole.
11He is the Stone that was set at nought by you the builders, that was made head of [the] corner.
12And in none other is there salvation; for neither is there a different name under heaven that is given among men by which we must be saved.
13Now beholding the boldness of Peter and John, and aware that they were unlettered and simple men, they wondered, and recognized them that they were with Jesus.
14And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.
15But, having commanded them to go aside out of the council, they were conferring among themselves,
16saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable sign hath been done through them [is] manifest to all that inhabit Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17But that it be not spread farther among the people, let us threaten them severely to speak to no man longer in this name.
18And having called them they charged [them] not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19But Peter and John answering said unto them, Whether it be right before God to hear you rather than God, judge ye:
20for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.
21And they having further threatened them let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them on account of the people, because all were glorifying God for what had been done. (Acts 4:1‑21)
Acts 5:17‑40• 17And the high priest rising up, and all those that were with him, which is [the] sect of the Sadducees, were filled with wrath,
18and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in public ward.
19But an angel of [the] Lord by night opened the doors of the prison, and leading them out said,
20Go and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.
21And when they heard they entered about dawn into the temple and were teaching. And when the high priest arrived and those with him, they called together the council and all the senate of the sons of Israel, and sent unto the jail to have them brought.
22But the officers that arrived did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported,
23saying, We found the jail shut in all security, and the keepers standing at the doors, but on opening we found no one within.
24And when both [the priest and] the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were utterly perplexed about them whereto this would come.
25And there arrived one and reported to them, Behold the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people.
26Then the captain went away with the officers, and brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
27And having brought they set them in the council; and the high priest asked them,
28saying, We strictly charged you not to teach on this name; and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and purpose to bring upon us the blood of this man.
29And in answer Peter and the apostles said, Obedience must be to God rather than men.
30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew by hanging on a tree:
31him God exalted with his right hand as Leader and Saviour to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins.
32And we are [his] witnesses of these things and the Holy Spirit whom God gave to those that obey him.
33And when they heard, they were cut [to the heart] and took counsel.
34But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, by name Gamaliel, a law-teacher, in honour with all the people, and commanded to put the men out a little while,
35and said unto them, Ye men of Israel take heed to yourselves as to these men what ye are about to do.
36For before these days, rose up Theudas, saying that he himself was somebody, with whom a number of men, about four hundred, took sides; who was slain, and all as many as obeyed him were dispersed, and came to nothing.
37After this one rose up Judas the Galilean, in the days of the census, and drew into revolt people after him; and he perished, and all as many as obeyed him were scattered abroad.
38And now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or if this work be of men, it will be overthrown,
39but if it is of God ye will not be able to overthrow them, lest ye be found [even] fighting against God.
40And to him they yielded, and having called the apostles, they beat and charged [them] not to speak on the name of Jesus, and let them go. (Acts 5:17‑40)
Acts 21:11,31‑40• 11and coming to us and taking Paul's girdle, he bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and deliver him into the hands of [the] Gentiles.
31And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief officer of the cohort, that the whole of Jerusalem was in confusion,
32and immediately he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them; and they, when they saw the chief officer and the soldiers, ceased beating Paul.
33Then the chief officer came near and laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and enquired who he might be, and what he had done.
34And some shouted one thing, and some another, among the crowd. And when he could not know the certainty because of the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle
35And when he came upon the steps, so it was that he was borne upon the soldiers, because of the violence of the crowd.
36For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, Away with him.
37And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he said unto the chief officer, May I say something unto thee? He said, Dost thou know Greek?
38Thou art not, then, the Egyptian who before these days stirred up to sedition, and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the assassins?
39But Paul said, I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I beseech thee give me leave to speak unto the people.
40And when he had given him leave, Paul standing on the steps, beckoned with his hand unto the people; and when there was great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying, (Acts 21:11,31‑40)
Acts 25:1‑26:32• 1Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him
3asking a favour that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him on the way.
4Howbeit Festus answered that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself was about to depart [there] shortly.
5Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.
6And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7And when he was come, the Jews that had come from Jerusalem stood round about and laid many and grievous charges which they could not prove;
8while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned at all.
9But Festus, desirous to gain favour with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.
11If then I am a wrong doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if none of these things is [true] whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.
13Now when certain days passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to salute Festus.
14And as they were spending several days there, Festus set Paul's case before the king, saying, There is a certain man left prisoner by Felix;
15about whom when I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews filed information, asking for condemnation against him.
16Unto whom I answered, that it is no custom for Romans to give up any man before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had an opportunity of defence concerning the complaint.
17When therefore they came together here, I made no delay but next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought;
18concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they were bringing no charge of such evil things as I supposed,
19but had certain questions of their own religion, and of one Jesus dead as he is, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20And I, being perplexed in the enquiry concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things.
21But when Paul appealed to be kept for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him unto Caesar.
22And Agrippa [said] unto Festus, I also should wish to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.
23Therefore on the morrow when Agrippa came, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they entered into the audience chamber with the commanders and the distinguished men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought.
24And saith Festus, King Agrippa, and all men that are here present with us, ye behold this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews applied to me both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
25But as I found that he had done nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him,
26about whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Wherefore I brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, King Agrippa, so that, after examination had, I may have what I shall write.
27For it seemeth to me unreasonable in sending a prisoner not also to signify the charges against him.
1And Agrippa said to Paul, It is permitted thee to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and entered on his defence.
2Touching all things of which I am accused by Jews, King Agrippa, I count myself happy that I am to make my defence before thee today;
3especially as thou art skilled in all customs and questions that are among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4My manner of life then from my youth which was from the beginning among my nation and at Jerusalem know all Jews,
5knowing me before from the outset, if they be willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6And now I stand to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;
7unto which our twelve tribes earnestly serving night and day hope to arrive. And concerning this hope I am accused by Jews, O King.
8Why is it judged incredible with you, if God raiseth dead [men]?
9I therefore thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene;
10which things I also did in Jerusalem; and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received the authority from the chief priests, and I railed against [them] when they were put to death;
11and throughout all the synagogues, often punishing I was compelling them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them I was pursuing them even as far as to the outside cities.
12On which [business] when proceeding unto Damascus with authority and commission of the chief priests,
13at mid-day on the road I saw, O King, a light above the brightness of the sun shining round me and those that were proceeding with me.
14And when we all fell to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [It is] hard for thee to kick against goads.
15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16But rise up and stand on thy feet, for to this end I appeared to thee, to appoint thee a servant and a witness both of what thou hast seen and of those things wherein I shall appear to thee,
17taking thee out from the people and from the Gentiles unto whom I send thee,
18to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness unto light and the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and inheritance among those that are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19Whence, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20but reported both to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem, and through all the country of Judea and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
21On account of these things the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to slay me.
22Having, therefore obtained help that is from God I stand unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said should come,
23whether Christ should suffer, whether he first by resurrection of [the] dead should announce light both to the people and to the Gentiles.
24And as he thus defended himself, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad: much learning doth turn thee to madness.
25But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but speak forth words of truth and soberness.
26For the king is cognizant of these things, unto whom also I speak with openness; for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this hath not been done in a corner.
27Believest thou, King Agrippa, the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28And Agrippa [said] unto Paul, With little [pains] thou art persuading a to make me a Christian.
29And Paul [said], I would to God that both with little and with great [pains] b not thou only but also all that hear me this day should become, as I too am, except these bonds.
30And c the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them;
31and when they had retired, they spoke one to another, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or bonds.
32And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar. (Acts 25:1‑26:32)