Peter Preaches to the Crowd

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.

Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’

Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men!

“At that time Moses was born—a beautiful child in God’s eyes. His parents cared for him at home for three months.

Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said,

Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.

Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.

But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.”

Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.

He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.