The priests and elders also feared lest Peter might make one of those powerful appeals which had frequently aroused the people to study the life and character of Jesus--appeals which they, with all their arguments, had been unable to controvert. Peter's zeal in advocating the cause of Christ had led many to take their stand for the gospel, and the rulers feared that should he be given an opportunity to defend his faith in the presence of the multitude who had come to 145 the city to worship, his release would be demanded at the hands of the king.

Præsterne og de ældste nærede også frygt for, at Peter skulle fremkomme med en af disse mægtige henvendelser til folket, som tit havde vakt det til at overveje Jesu liv og personlighed, en sådan appel, som de med alle deres argumenter ikke havde været i stand til at tilbagevise. Peters nidkærhed for at fremme Kristi sag havde ført mange til at antage evangeliet, og rådsherrerne var bange for, at hvis han skulle få lejlighed til at forsvare sin tro i nærværelse af de mange, der var kommet til byen for at tilbede, ville man kræve hans løsladelse af kongen.