Peter and John Before the Council

4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^(A)the captain of the temple and ^(B)the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^(C)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and ^(D)put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and ^(E)the number of the men came to about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with ^(F)Annas the high priest and ^(G)Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, ^(H)“By what power or ^(I)by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, ^(J)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today ^(K)concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that ^(L)by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, ^(M)whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. ^11 (N)This Jesus^[a] is the stone that was ^(O)rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.^{[b] 12} And there is ^(P)salvation ^(Q)in no one else, for ^(R)there is no other ^(S)name under heaven given among men^[c] by which we must be saved.”

^13 (T)Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But seeing the man who was healed ^(U)standing beside them, ^(V)they had nothing to say in opposition. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, ¹⁶ saying, ^(W)“What shall we do with these men? For that ^(X)a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them ^(Y)to speak no more to anyone in this name.” ¹⁸ So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, ^(Z)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, ²⁰ for ^(AA)we cannot but speak of what ^(AB)we have seen and heard.” ²¹ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, ^(AC)because of the people, for all were praising God ^(AD)for what had happened. ²² For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of ^(A)the Sadducees), and filled with ^(B)jealousy ¹⁸ they arrested the apostles and ^(C)put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(D)an angel of the Lord ^(E)opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all ^(F)the words of ^(G)this ^(H)Life.” ²¹ And when they heard this, ^(I)they entered the temple ^(J)at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, ²³ “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when ^(K)the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. ²⁵ And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison ^(L)are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ Then ^(M)the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for ^(N)they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, ^(O)“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you ^(P)intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, ^(Q)“We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (R)The God of our fathers ^(S)raised Jesus, ^(T)whom you killed by hanging him on ^(U)a tree. ³¹ God exalted ^(V)him at his right hand as ^(W)Leader and ^(X)Savior, ^(Y)to give ^(Z)repentance to Israel and ^(AA)forgiveness of sins. ³² And ^(AB)we are witnesses to these things, and ^(AC)so is the Holy Spirit, ^(AD)whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they ^(AE)were enraged and wanted to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee in the council named ^(AF)Gamaliel, ^(AG)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 ^(AH)before these days Theudas rose up, ^(AI)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 ^(AJ)the 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 ^(AK)if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ³⁹ but ^(AL)if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You ^(AM)might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, ⁴⁰ and ^(AN)when they had called in the apostles, ^(AO)they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, ^(AP)rejoicing that they were counted worthy ^(AQ)to suffer dishonor for ^(AR)the name. ⁴² And every day, ^(AS)in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and ^(AT)preaching ^(AU)that the Christ is Jesus.