This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Acts 5:17-26, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
There were some people called the apostles who loved to teach others about Jesus. But some other people called the Sadducees didn’t like that and were very jealous. So, they decided to arrest the apostles and put them in jail!
But at night, an angel of the Lord came and opened the doors of the prison, and told the apostles to go to the temple and teach the people all about the good news of Jesus. The angel said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
So the apostles listened to the angel and went to the temple the next day and started teaching.
When the Sadducees found out that the apostles were teaching in the temple, they got together with some other important people in Israel and called for the apostles to be brought to them. The officers went to the prison to get the apostles, but they were not there! The doors were locked and the guards were standing there, but the apostles were gone. The officers returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”
The captain of the temple and the chief priests were confused and didn’t know what to think. Then someone came and told them that the apostles were in the temple teaching the people. The captain and the officers were afraid of the people, so they went to the temple to get the apostles, but they didn’t use force because they didn’t want to be stoned.
The apostles were happy to share the good news of Jesus and even though they were arrested, God protected them and set them free.
Biblical Lessons
- Jealousy and envy can lead people to do harmful things.
- God can use any circumstance, even imprisonment, to bring about His plans and purposes.
- God’s protection is not limited to physical safety, but also extends to our spiritual well-being.
Related Stories
Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Must-Read Christian Books
The Pursuit of God
A heartfelt call to pursue God Himself above all else, with a strong emphasis on holiness and devotion.
View on Amazon
Holiness
A rich, pastoral treatment of sin, sanctification, and the fight for holiness in the Christian life, deeply rooted in Scripture.
View on Amazon
A Call to Spiritual Reformation
Walks through Paul's prayers to teach believers how to pray biblically and God-centeredly.
View on Amazon
The God Who Is There
Shows how the God of the Bible speaks into modern philosophical and cultural confusion.
View on Amazon
Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands
Biblical counseling and discipleship that helps believers speak God's truth into one another's lives.
View on Amazon
Overcoming Sin and Temptation
A classic Puritan work on mortifying sin and living in the power of the Spirit.
View on Amazon
Trusting God
Encourages believers to trust God's sovereignty, wisdom, and love in every circumstance.
View on Amazon
Spiritual Leadership
Biblical principles for godly leadership in the church, home, and workplace.
View on Amazon
The Gospel According to Jesus
Defends a biblical understanding of faith and repentance against easy-believism.
View on Amazon
The Bondage of the Will
Luther's classic defense of the Bible's teaching on human sin and God's sovereign grace.
View on Amazon
The Westminster Confession of Faith
A historic confession that systematically sets forth Reformed theology from Scripture.
View on Amazon
Expository Listening
Teaches Christians how to listen to expository preaching in a way that bears fruit.
View on Amazon
Christ-Centered Preaching
A standard textbook on preaching that shows how to proclaim Christ from all of Scripture.
View on Amazon
Gentle and Lowly
Meditates on Christ's heart for sinners and sufferers from key biblical texts.
View on Amazon
The Christian Life
A clear, doctrinally rich overview of salvation and Christian living.
View on Amazon
The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment
Teaches believers how to distinguish truth from error using Scripture.
View on Amazon
Christian Mission in the Modern World
Clarifies key biblical concepts like evangelism, mission, and social action.
View on Amazon