17. But to keep this thing from spreading, we will warn them never again to speak to anyone about the name of Jesus.”
18. So they called the two apostles back in and told them that they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.
19. Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him?
20. We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.”
21-22. The officials could not find any reason to punish Peter and John. So they threatened them and let them go. The man who was healed by this miracle was more than forty years old, and everyone was praising God for what had happened.
23. As soon as Peter and John had been set free, they went back and told the others everything that the chief priests and the leaders had said to them.
24. When the rest of the Lord's followers heard this, they prayed together and said:Master, you created heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.
25. And by the Holy Spirit you spoke to our ancestor David. He was your servant, and you told him to say:“Why are all the Gentilesso furious?Why do peoplemake foolish plans?
26. The kings of earthprepare for war,and the rulersjoin togetheragainst the Lordand his Messiah.”
27. Here in Jerusalem, Herod and Pontius Pilate got together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel. Then they turned against your holy Servant Jesus, your chosen Messiah.