14. More and more there were being added to the Lord those who believed [those who acknowledged Jesus as their Savior and devoted themselves to Him joined and gathered with them], crowds both of men and of women,
15. So that they [even] kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, [in the hope] that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
16. And the people gathered also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured.
17. But the high priest rose up and all who were his supporters, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and being filled with jealousy and indignation and rage,
18. They seized and arrested the apostles (special messengers) and put them in the public jail.
19. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and, leading them out, said,
20. Go, take your stand in the temple courts and declare to the people the whole doctrine concerning this Life (the eternal life which Christ revealed).
21. And when they heard this, they accordingly went into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now the high priest and his supporters who were with him arrived and called together the council (Sanhedrin), even all the senate of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have [the apostles] brought.
22. But when the attendants arrived there, they failed to find them in the jail; so they came back and reported,
23. We found the prison quite safely locked up and the guards were on duty outside the doors, but when we opened [it], we found no one on the inside.
24. Now when the military leader of the temple area and the chief priests heard these facts, they were much perplexed and thoroughly at a loss about them, wondering into what this might grow.
25. But some man came and reported to them, saying, Listen! The men whom you put in jail are standing [right here] in the temple and teaching the people!
26. Then the military leader went with the attendants and brought [the prisoners], but without violence, for they dreaded the people lest they be stoned by them.
27. So they brought them and set them before the council (Sanhedrin). And the high priest examined them by questioning,
28. Saying, We definitely commanded and strictly charged you not to teach in or about this Name; yet here you have flooded Jerusalem with your doctrine and you intend to bring this Man's blood upon us.
29. Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men.
30. The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree (cross). [Deut. 21:22, 23.]
31. God exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince and Leader and Savior and Deliverer and Preserver, in order to grant repentance to Israel and to bestow forgiveness and release from sins.
32. And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit is also, Whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.
33. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and infuriated and wanted to kill the disciples.