26. The captain and his men went out and brought the apostles back. But the soldiers did not use force, because they were afraid of the people. They were afraid the people would stone them to death.
27. The soldiers brought the apostles in and made them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them.
28. He said, “We told you never again to teach using that name. But look at what you have done! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you are trying to blame us for his death.”
29. Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God, not you!
30. You killed Jesus by nailing him to a cross. But God, the same God our fathers had, raised Jesus up from death.
31. Jesus is the one God honored by giving him a place at his right side. He made him our Leader and Savior. God did this to give all the people of Israel the opportunity to change and turn to God to have their sins forgiven.
32. We saw all these things happen, and we can say that they are true. The Holy Spirit also shows that these things are true. God has given this Spirit to all those who obey him.”
33. When the council members heard this, they became very angry. They began to plan a way to kill the apostles.
34. But one member of the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, stood up. He was a teacher of the law, and all the people respected him. He told the men to make the apostles leave the meeting for a few minutes.