But notwithstanding their disposition to destroy the disciples, they dared not do worse than threaten them with the severest punishment if they continued to teach or work in the name of Jesus. Thereupon Peter and John boldly declared that their work had been given them of God, and they could not but speak the things which they had seen and heard. The priests would gladly have punished these noble men for their unswerving fidelity to their sacred calling, but they feared the people, “for all men glorified God for that which was done.” So, with repeated threats and injunctions, the apostles were set at liberty. {3SP 281.4}

Men på trods af deres ønske om at (282) udslette disciplene, turde de ikke gøre noget værre end at true dem med den hårdeste straf hvis de fortsætte med at lære og virke i Jesu navn. Derpå erklærede Peter og Johannes frimodigt at deres arbejde var blevet givet dem af Gud, og de kunne ikke andet end tale om de ting de havde set og hørt. Præsterne ville gladelig have straffet disse adelsmænd for deres usvigelige troskab mod deres hellige kald, men de frygtede for folket, "for alle mænd ærede Gud for det som var gjort." Sammen med gentagede trusler og formaninger, blev apostlene således sat fri.