Acts 5:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."

NIV: "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people all about this new life."

NASB: Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple area the whole message of this Life.'

CSB: "Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life."

NLT: Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!'

KJV: Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

NKJV: “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

A short time before, Peter and John healed a man born lame, using the authority of Jesus' name. When a crowd grew around them, they explained how the power and authority of the risen Jesus healed this man. That same power could heal the people's relationship with God if they repented from their sins. The priests, most of whom did not believe resurrection from the dead is possible, arrested them and ordered them to stop speaking in Jesus' name. Peter and John responded, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19–20). The council released them, and they returned to the other apostles (Acts 3:1—4:31).

Now, the priests have arrested all the apostles for standing in the temple courtyard, healing in the name of Jesus and teaching that Jesus rose from the dead and offers forgiveness for those who repent of their sins (Acts 5:17–18). God sends an angel to break them out of jail and tell them to return to the temple and continue their work.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told the apostles they would be His "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). At that moment, He didn't say they would be arrested, beaten, shipwrecked, or killed, although He had warned of persecution earlier (Matthew 10:16–22). He just told them what they were going to do.

With the encouragement of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:29–31), they follow through on Jesus' orders. The priests and other Sadducees will learn that no amount of threats or even persecution will stop them. The Pharisee Gamaliel will counsel that if this movement is from God, nothing the Sanhedrin does will stop it (Acts 5:34–39). He says these words to calm the council so they don't commit mass murder. There's no indication he ever realizes he is right.

Acts 5:17–26 occurs after the chief priests arrested Peter and John for preaching and healing in Jesus' name, and ordered them not to do so again (Acts 4:1–22). Now, all the apostles are healing and preaching in Jesus' name (Acts 5:12–16), and so the priests arrest them all. At this point, the Sanhedrin is still afraid of the people (Acts 5:26); after all, the apostles are so powerful the people believe even Peter's shadow can heal the sick (Acts 5:15). Soon, the council will get bolder. A mob will kill Stephen (Acts 7:54–60), and then a Pharisee named Saul will help the council drive almost all the Jesus-followers out of Jerusalem (Acts 8:1–3).

The apostles continue to make hard decisions in the name of Jesus, both inside and outside the church. When Ananias and Sapphira lie to God, the Holy Spirit inspires Peter to pronounce God's judgment on them, protecting the church from the love of the world. Despite the Sanhedrin's watchful eye—and direct orders (Acts 4:17–18)—the apostles continue to preach and heal openly. The guards arrest the apostles, but the Sanhedrin settles for beating them instead of capital punishment. The apostles consider it an honor to suffer on behalf of their Savior.

In Acts 5, persecution from unbelievers begins to accelerate. The Sanhedrin has become aware the apostles teach that Jesus rose from the dead (Acts 4). Now, they start to push back in earnest, arresting and beating the apostles. Soon, a mob will kill Stephen, a deacon (Acts 7:54–60), and the Sanhedrin will empower Saul to run down and arrest any Jesus-follower he can find (Acts 8:1–3). The apostles will stay in Jerusalem. Other Jesus-followers will carry His offer of forgiveness and reconciliation with God into the Roman Empire and beyond. The apostles' faithfulness and submission to the Holy Spirit is why we have the gospel message today.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.