16
Crowds came from all the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those who were bothered by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
17
The high priest and all his friends (a group called the Sadducees) became very jealous.
18
They took the apostles and put them in jail.
19
But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and led the apostles outside. The angel said,
20
"Go stand in the Temple and tell the people everything about this new life."
21
When the apostles heard this, they obeyed and went into the Temple early in the morning and continued teaching. When the high priest and his friends arrived, they called a meeting of the Jewish leaders and all the important older Jewish men. They sent some men to the jail to bring the apostles to them.
22
But, upon arriving, the officers could not find the apostles. So they went back and reported to the Jewish leaders.
23
They said, "The jail was closed and locked, and the guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened the doors, the jail was empty!"
24
Hearing this, the captain of the Temple guards and the leading priests were confused and wondered what was happening.
25
Then someone came and told them, "Listen! The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple teaching the people."
26
Then the captain and his men went out and brought the apostles back. But the soldiers did not use force, because they were afraid the people would stone them to death.