Acts 5:26-42 Immediately the captain, with his officers, went to the Temple and brought the apostles back again, but did not use any violence because they feared that the people might stone them.

AUV⁽ⁱ⁾ ²⁶ [Immediately] the captain, with his officers, went [to the Temple] and brought the apostles back again, but did not use any violence because they feared that the people might stone them. ²⁷ And so they brought them in [to their headquarters] to appear before the Council [for questioning]. The head priest spoke to them, [saying], ²⁸ "We strictly commanded you not to teach in this name [i.e., the name of Jesus] and look [what you have done]; you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to hold us responsible for this man's [i.e., Jesus'] death." ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered them, "We must obey God instead of [you] men [in this situation]. ³⁰ The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus [from the dead], whom you put to death by hanging Him on a tree [i.e., the cross]. ³¹ But God exalted Him at His right side to be a Prince and Savior and to give the people of Israel [an opportunity] to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives] and [receive] forgiveness of [their] sins [through Him]. ³² We apostles are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to every person who obeys Him." ³³ But when the Jewish officials heard this, they were deeply convicted in their hearts and determined to kill the apostles. ³⁴ But [then] Gamaliel, a Council member, who was a Pharisee [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion], and an expert in the law of Moses and highly regarded by all the people, stood up and ordered the apostles to step outside [of the Council meeting] briefly. ³⁵ And he said [to the Council members], "Men of Israel, be careful how you deal with these men. ³⁶ For [remember that] some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone [important], and that about four hundred people rallied [to his cause], but he was killed and all his men left him and nothing ever came of it. ³⁷ Later on another man, named Judas of Galilee, appeared during the census [Note: The time and circumstances of this census were probably known to the original readers], and led [a group of] people away after him, but he also was killed and all of his followers were scattered. ³⁸ And so now I say, hold off your accusations and let these men alone, for if their planning and effort is [merely] of human origin, it will be defeated, ³⁹ but if [it happens to be] of God, you will not be able to defeat them. And [if you try to], you may [actually] be fighting against [the work of] God." ⁴⁰ And so the Council agreed [with Gamaliel's advice] and when they called the apostles back in, they had them beaten and ordered them never to speak in the name of Jesus [again]; then they released them. ⁴¹ When the apostles left the Council meeting, they were rejoicing over being considered worthy to suffer [such] shame for the name [of Jesus]. ⁴² So, every day, they never stopped teaching and preaching that Jesus was the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one], in the Temple and in private homes.