15. They ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over.
16. "What can we do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle. We can't say it didn't happen.
17. We have to stop this thing. It must not spread any further among the people. We have to warn these men. They must never speak to anyone in Jesus' name again."
18. Once again the leaders called in Peter and John. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus' name.
19. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves. Which is right from God's point of view? Should we obey you? Or God?
20. There's nothing else we can do. We have to speak about the things we've seen and heard."
21. The leaders warned them again. Then they let them go. They couldn't decide how to punish Peter and John. They knew that all the people were praising God for what had happened.
22. The man who had been healed by the miracle was over 40 years old.
23. Peter and John were allowed to leave. They went back to their own people. They reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
24. When the believers heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Lord and King," they said, "you made the heavens, the earth and the sea. You made everything in them.
25. Long ago you spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, who served you. You said, " 'Why are the nations angry? Why do the people make useless plans?
26. The kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord. The rulers of the earth gather together against his Anointed King.' (Psalm 2:1,2)
27. "In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with those who weren't Jews. They also met with the people of Israel. All of them made plans against your holy servant Jesus. He is the one you anointed.
28. They did what your power and purpose had already decided should happen.