“We Cannot Stop Speaking”

¹As they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees approached them. ²They were upset that Peter and John were teaching the people and preaching through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³They arrested them and held them until the next day, since it was already evening. ⁴But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of men was about 5,000. ⁵The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes gathered in Jerusalem. ⁶Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and everyone else from the high priest's family. ⁷They brought Peter and John before them and demanded, "By what power or in whose name did you do this?" ⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, ⁹if we are being questioned today about an act of kindness shown to a crippled man — how he was healed — ¹⁰then let every one of you and all the people of Israel know this: it was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the one you crucified and God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you completely healed. ¹¹Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' ¹²There is no salvation through anyone else. There is no other name under heaven given to humanity by which we must be saved." ¹³When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴And since the man who had been healed was standing right there with them, the council had nothing they could say against it. ¹⁵So they ordered Peter and John to step outside the council chamber and began debating among themselves. ¹⁶"What shall we do with these men?" they asked. "A notable miracle has indeed been done by them, and it is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem; we cannot deny it." ¹⁷But to keep this from spreading any further among the people, let's warn them with serious threats never to speak to anyone in this name again." ¹⁸So they called Peter and John back in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹But Peter and John replied, "You decide for yourselves whether it's right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. ²⁰Because we simply cannot stop talking about what we've seen and heard." ²¹After further threatening them, they released them, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for everyone was praising God for what had happened. ²²After all, the man who had been miraculously healed was over 40 years old.