17 The high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 laid hands on the apostles and put them in jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, 20 “Go to the Temple court and give the people this message of life!”
21 So at daybreak they entered the temple courts, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the leaders 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 returned with the report, 23 “The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!” 24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this, they were perplexed as to what was happening. 25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”
26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without force, for they were afraid the people would stone them. 27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest questioned them. 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 death.”
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 But God has exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit” (Presence of God) “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 the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time. 35 Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, consider what you plan to do to these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and the whole thing 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 So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. For if their purpose and activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.” 40 They were persuaded by him and called the Apostles back in. After having them flogged, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the high council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
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Very Brief Outline of Acts:
Jesus returns to where he was with the Father before his advent/visit (his brief first one).
The Holy Spirit/Presence of God is poured out on the believers who were in Jerusalem on the late Spring holy day of Pentecost. Peter speaks, there are 3000 new believers that day.
The good news message spreads, Peter is invited and goes to a Roman’s house and all believe. The first record of non Hebrew believers (besides likely some on Pentecost).
Persecution breaks out.. jail. stoning. Pharisee Saul leads the persecution, but on his way to Damascus with papers for arrests, Jesus makes himself seen but is so bright Paul falls to the ground and is blinded. After two days he is healed and is a believer, and soon is called Paul. He wrote many (to most) of the New Testament letters, but spent a few years (it seems to me) exclusively listening to the Lord. He established many ‘churches’ in what’s called three missionary journeys, and met and worked with Mark and Luke, and quite a few others. (Luke wrote this Book of Acts.) His fourth journey is to Rome to trial as a prisoner. There’s a shipwreck on the way.. He wrote many of his letters while in prison and under ‘house’ arrest.
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