Study Desk

For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate's decision to release him.

For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.

Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.'

You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.'

are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed?

For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.'

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn't know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God

for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.

The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'

"In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.

For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means "Son of Encouragement"). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus.

Then Peter said, "Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.

Peter asked her, "Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?" "Yes," she replied, "that was the price."

But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.

So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial.

The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.

"We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man's name!" he said. "Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!"

But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while.

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.