Acts 5:27-33
Chapter 5
27
So they brought them in and made them stand before the Council, and the high priest questioned them:
28
“We gave you strict orders not to preach such a Savior, but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching; and you are planning to charge us with the killing of this man.”
29
To this, Peter and the apostles replied:
“It is better for us to obey God rather than any human authority!
30
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a wooden cross.
31
God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
32
We are witnesses to all these things, as well as the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33
When the Council heard this, they became very angry and wanted to kill them.
Commentaries
Persecution.
This time, it is the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, behind the arrest of the apostles. Luke uses a traditional heavenly intervention: an angel frees them and instructs them to return to the temple to teach. The message is clear: when God wants something to happen, all human opposition becomes meaningless. The leader of the Sadducees accuses them, and Peter’s response remains the same: he denounces the death of Jesus, proclaims His resurrection, and calls for repentance. The reaction is intense. They want to condemn them to death. Then, the Pharisee Gamaliel stands up, speaks, and dramatically changes the situation. Luke emphasizes this wise man’s testimony, respected by all, because attitudes like his help build bridges between opposing sides. Luke concludes the episode with a new experience for the apostles: they leave joyful, not because they have been freed, but because they have had the chance to suffer as Jesus did.