Acts 5:21-31

21 Promptly obedient, they entered the Temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.
22 When the police got there, they couldn't find them anywhere in the jail. They went back and reported,
23 "We found the jail locked tight as a drum and the guards posted at the doors, but when we went inside we didn't find a soul."
24 The chief of the Temple police and the high priests were puzzled. "What's going on here anyway?"
25 Just then someone showed up and said, "Did you know that the men you put in jail are back in the Temple teaching the people?"
26 The chief and his police went and got them, but they handled them gently, fearful that the people would riot and turn on them.
27 Bringing them back, they stood them before the High Council. The Chief Priest said,
28 "Didn't we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus' name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man."
29 Peter and the apostles answered, "It's necessary to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross.
31 God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.