17. Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.
18. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.
19. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,
20. “Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life.”
21. When they heard this, they entered the temple courts at daybreak and began teaching.Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin – that is, the whole high council of the Israelites – and sent to the jail to have the apostles brought before them.
22. But the officers who came for them did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,
23. “We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
24. Now when the commander of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were greatly puzzled concerning it, wondering what this could be.
25. But someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!”
26. Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).
27. When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them,