20. “Go and stand in the Temple area. Tell the people everything about this new life.”
21. When the apostles heard this, they did what they were told. They went into the Temple area about sunrise and began to teach the people. The high priest and his friends came together and called a meeting of the high council and all the older Jewish leaders. They sent some men to the jail to bring the apostles to them.
22. When the men went to the jail, they could not find the apostles there. So they went back and told the Jewish leaders about this.
23. They said, “The jail was closed and locked. The guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened the doors, the jail was empty!”
24. The captain of the Temple guards and the leading priests heard this. They were confused and wondered what it all meant.
25. Then another man came and told them, “Listen! The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple area teaching the people.”
26. The captain and his men went out and brought the apostles back. But the soldiers did not use force, because they were afraid of the people. They were afraid the people would stone them to death.
27. The soldiers brought the apostles in and made them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them.
28. He said, “We told you never again to teach using that name. But look at what you have done! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you are trying to blame us for his death.”
29. Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God, not you!
30. You killed Jesus by nailing him to a cross. But God, the same God our fathers had, raised Jesus up from death.
31. Jesus is the one God honored by giving him a place at his right side. He made him our Leader and Savior. God did this to give all the people of Israel the opportunity to change and turn to God to have their sins forgiven.