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.

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, ^(A)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, ²⁰ for ^(B)we cannot but speak of what ^(C)we have seen and heard.” ²¹ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, ^(D)because of the people, for all were praising God ^(E)for what had happened. ²² For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

²³ When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices ^(F)together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, ^(G)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵ who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,^[a] said by the Holy Spirit,

²⁷ for truly in this city there were gathered together against your ^(K)holy servant Jesus, ^(L)whom you anointed, both ^(M)Herod and ^(N)Pontius Pilate, along ^(O)with the Gentiles and ^(P)the peoples of Israel, ^28 (Q)to do whatever your hand and ^(R)your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, Lord, ^(S)look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all ^(T)boldness, ³⁰ while ^(U)you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed ^(V)through the name of your ^(W)holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, ^(X)the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and ^(Y)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and ^(Z)continued to speak the word of God with boldness.