15. As Peter was passing by, the people brought their sick into the streets. They put their sick on beds and mats so at least Peter’s shadow might fall on them.
16. Crowds came from all the towns around Jerusalem. They brought their sick and those who were bothered by evil spirits. 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. He led the apostles outside and said,
20. “Go and stand in the Temple. Tell the people everything about this new life.”
21. When the apostles heard this, they obeyed and went into the Temple. It was early in the morning, and they began to teach.The high priest and his friends arrived. They called a meeting of the Jewish leaders and all the important older men of the Jews. They sent some men to the jail to bring the apostles to them.
22. When the men went to the jail, they could not find the apostles. So they went back and told the Jewish leaders about this.
23. They said, “The jail was closed and locked. 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. They wondered, “What will happen because of this?”