29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must ^oobey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a ^ptree. 31 God ^qexalted him ^rat his right hand as ^sLeader and ^tSavior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are ^uwitnesses to these things, ^vand so is the Holy Spirit, ^wwhom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, they were ^xenraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days ^yTheudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of ^zthe census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and ^acharged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, ^brejoicing that they were ^ccounted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the ^dChrist is Jesus.

Praise the Name of the Lord

Born Again to a Living Hope

3 ^fBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be ^gborn again to a living ^hhope ⁱthrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an ^jinheritance that is ^kimperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ^lready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you ^mrejoice, though now ⁿfor a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the ^otested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the ^prevelation of Jesus Christ. 8 ^qThough you have not seen him, you love him. ^rThough you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19 ^vOn the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were ^wfor fear of the Jews,¹ Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ^x“Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he ^yshowed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples ^zwere glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. ^aAs the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ^b“Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 ^cIf you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Jesus and Thomas

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the ^dTwin,² was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” ^eBut he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will ^fnever believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, ^g“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, ^h“My Lord and ⁱmy God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have ^jseen me? Blessed are those who have ^knot seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of This Book

30 ^lNow Jesus did many other ^msigns in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written ⁿso that you may believe that ^oJesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that ^pby believing you may have life in his name.