Acts 5:20

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

Cross-references

Acts 5:42 Parallel

In Acts 5:42, the apostles obey the command from 5:20 by preaching daily in the temple—fulfillment of the angel’s instruction.

Acts 11:14 Parallel

Acts 11:14 describes a message that brings salvation — the same 'words of this Life' that the apostles are commanded to speak in Acts 5:20.

Acts 10:42 Parallel

In Acts 10:42, Peter summarizes the apostles’ commission to preach and testify—same mission as the angel gives in 5:20.

Acts 4:18 Contrast

In Acts 4:18, the Sanhedrin forbid preaching; here the angel commands preaching—a direct contrast of divine vs human authority.

John 17:3 Related theme

John 17:3 defines eternal life as knowing God and Jesus — the content of the 'words of this Life' the apostles are commanded to speak in Acts 5:20.

1 John 5:12 Related theme

1 John 5:12 ties life to having the Son; the apostles' words of life call people to receive Him.

1 John 5:11 Related theme

1 John 5:11 testifies that God gives eternal life in His Son — the 'this life' the apostles are commanded to announce.

1 John 1:1–3 Related theme

1 John 1:1-3 proclaims the 'word of life' and eternal life, matching exactly the message the apostles must speak.

John 17:8 Related theme

In John 17:8, Jesus gave the words the Father gave Him; the apostles are to speak those same words of life.

Exodus 24:3 Parallel

Exodus 24:3 records Moses telling the people all the words of the LORD — a clear parallel to the command in Acts 5:20 to speak all the words of this Life.

John 12:50 Related theme

John 12:50 states God's commandment is eternal life — the same life-giving message that the apostles are told to proclaim in Acts 5:20.

John 6:68 Allusion

John 6:68 declares Jesus has the words of eternal life — the very phrase 'words of life' echoed in Acts 5:20's 'all the words of this Life'.

John 6:63 Allusion

In John 6:63, Jesus says his words are spirit and life — directly connecting to the 'words of this Life' the apostles are to speak in Acts 5:20.

In Jeremiah 26:2, God gives the same command: stand in the temple court and speak all the words I command you — a direct parallel to the angel's commission.

Jeremiah 19:14 shows Jeremiah standing in the temple court to prophesy. This matches the apostles' commission to stand in the temple and speak God's word.

Jeremiah 7:2 commands standing in the temple gate and proclaiming. The same instruction appears here: 'stand and speak in the temple' — a direct parallel in wording and setting.

In Matthew 10:27, Jesus tells disciples to proclaim publicly what they hear privately—matching the angel’s command to speak openly in the temple.

Amos 7:15 Parallel

In Amos 7:15, God takes Amos from his work and commands, 'Go, prophesy'—identical commissioning to go and speak.

Amos 3:8 Parallel

In Amos 3:8, the prophet cannot stay silent when God speaks—same compulsion drives the apostles to preach despite threats.

John 18:20 Parallel

In John 18:20, Jesus says he has always taught openly in the temple — the same public proclamation setting as the apostolic commission in Acts 5:20.