Acts 5:12-26 Lesson 228

Acts 5:12-26
Lesson 228

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Miracles and the angelic escape artist.

Peter is released from prison.

Oil on canvas by Italian Baroque artist Mattia Preti (1613-1699)

Study Tip:

Compose your own chapter titles to describe the main topic in each passage.

The Acts of the Apostles

The King James Bible

Acts 5:12-26
The apostles are arrested, again

12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

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

21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,

23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

Margin notes:

"Many signs and wonders wrought among the people." (5:12) - This means, "many miracles were performed for the people." God answered the apostle's prayer from verse 4:30.

"Solomon's porch." (5:12) - Solomon's porch was part of the Temple (John 10:23). The apostles were literally preaching in their enemies' front yard.

"And of the rest durst no man join himself to them." (5:13) - "But the rest (of the people) dared not join them." See "Today's Question" below.

"Believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." (5:14) - The apostles were successfully reaching people (Acts 2:47).

"Vexed with unclean spirits." (5:16) - "Tortured by demons."

"And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison." (5:18) - Once again, the apostles were arrested (4:1-3). Remember, before being released the last time, the apostles were physically threatened and warned not to talk about Jesus (Acts 4:21). A warning they refused to heed.

"Called the council together." (5:21) - This is the Sanhedrin, the same council that condemned Christ.

"We shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without." (5:23) - Means, "We locked them up safe and the jailors were standing outside."

"Captain of the temple." (5:24) - "Captain of the Temple guard."

"They doubted of them whereunto this would grow." (5:24) - "They were baffled and wondered what this would lead to."

New Living Translation

Acts 5:12-26
The Apostles Heal Many

12 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon's Colonnade.

13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.

14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord-crowds of both men and women.

15 As a result of the apostles' work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter's shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.

16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.

The Apostles Meet Opposition

17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.

18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them,

20 "Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!"

21 So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching.

When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council-the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial.

22 But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported,

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 leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end.

25 Then someone arrived with startling news: "The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!"

26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's Question:

1. What does "Durst no man join himself to them: But the people magnified them" mean? Were people afraid to become Christians? (5:13)

"Let God be true, but every man a liar." Romans 3:4

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. "Durst no man join himself to them: But the people magnified them" means, "No man dared join the apostles, although the people held them in high esteem."

Many believed that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah and converted to Christianity (5:14). Still, on this particular day, no one was willing to leave their life behind and join the apostles out of fear of the authorities. Yet, the guards still feared what the people in the Temple would do if they harmed the apostles (5:26).

Application thought for the day:

The apostles were jailed and threatened by the most powerful men in society. Being Christians didn't make the apostle's problems disappear, but their faith in God made the obstacles less formidable. After being freed from prison, the apostles went back to preaching. They thought more about serving God and less about the dangers. Chances are you'll never be jailed for your beliefs, but do you have the strength of conviction to show your faith to God, and those around you?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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