So when they had further threatened them
Either repeated the same, as before; or added some more severe
ones, to terrify them, if possible; not being able to answer
their arguments, or invalidate their reasoning: they let
them go;
they did not acquit them as innocent persons, but dismissed them
from custody: finding nothing how they might punish
them;
not being able, though they sought most diligently for it, to fix
anything upon them, which might be a cause, or occasion, or
pretence of inflicting any punishment upon them: because of
the people:
they would not have stuck at the injustice of it, or have been
under any concern about offending God; but they were afraid of
the people, of losing their credit among them, and lest they
should rise up against them, and on the side of the apostles:
for all men glorified God for that which was
done;
they saw the hand of God in it, and ascribed it to his mercy,
goodness, and power, and gave him the glory of it; and therefore
to punish the instruments of so great and good a work, would have
been esteemed barbarous and wicked, and would have been highly
resented by them; since, on the contrary, they judged them worthy
of great honour and respect.
Acts 4:21
