19
But during the night, an angel of ADONAI opened the doors of the prison, led them out and said,
20
"Go, stand in the Temple court and keep telling the people all about this new life!"
21
After hearing that, they entered the Temple area about dawn and began to teach. Now the cohen hagadol and his associates came and called a meeting of the Sanhedrin (that is, of Isra'el's whole assembly of elders) and sent to the jail to have them brought.
22
But the officers who went did not find them in the prison. So they returned and reported,
23
"We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened it, we found no one inside!"
24
When the captain of the Temple police and the head cohanim heard these things, they were puzzled and wondered what would happen next.
25
Then someone came and reported to them, "Listen! The men you ordered put in prison are standing in the Temple court, teaching the people!"
26
The captain and his officers went and brought them, but not with force; because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27
They conducted them to the Sanhedrin, where the cohen hagadol demanded of them,
28
"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name! Look here! you have filled Yerushalayim with your teaching; moreover, you are determined to make us responsible for this man's death!"
29
Kefa and the other emissaries answered, "We must obey God, not men.