“Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
Parallel translations
- WEB “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this 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.”
- NASB “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple area the whole message of this Life.”
- NLT “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The angel commands them to go and preach in the temple all 'the words of this life.' Deliverance is for the sake of bold witness, not safety.
Overview
God frees the apostles not to flee but to return to the very place of danger and proclaim the message. 'The words of this life' is the gospel that gives true and eternal life through the risen Christ. The command shows that the purpose of God's rescue is the continued spread of His saving word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- John 6:63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
- John 6:68Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
- 1 Jn 5:11–12And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
- 1 Jn 1:1–3That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.
- Matt 21:23When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
- John 17:3Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
- John 12:50And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”
- John 18:20“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
- Acts 11:14He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’
- Jer 36:10From the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, which was in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gate of the house of the LORD, Baruch read from the scroll the words of Jeremiah in the hearing of all the people.
- Jer 22:1–2This is what the LORD says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there,
- Jer 19:14–15Then Jeremiah returned from Topheth, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy, and he stood in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and proclaimed to all the people,
- Jer 26:2“This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship there. Do not omit a word.
- Isa 58:1“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Jer 7:2“Stand in the gate of the house of the LORD and proclaim this message: Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who enter through these gates to worship the LORD.
- Jer 20:2–3he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
- John 17:8For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.
- Exod 24:3When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: “All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.”
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 5:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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