1. Go stand in the temple courts (17-20)

The religious leaders were jealous of the apostles' popularity and arrested them. During the night an angel of the Lord freed them. Rather than telling them to escape and hide, they were to stand in the temple, the symbolic heart of Israel, and tell the people all about the new life in Christ. Likewise, God sets us free from sin, not to hide and save ourselves but to preach the gospel, that others may know the new life of Jesus.

Counted worthy of suffering (21-42)2.

Once the Sanhedrin realized what had happened they re-arrested the apostles and tried to silence them. Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human beings!" He again asserted that God has raised Jesus from the dead, that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgiveness of sins and that they were witnesses. After Gamaliel's pragmatic intervention, the Sanhedrin had the apostles flogged and released. This was both unjust and cruel, yet the apostles rejoiced. They were thankful to be found worthy of suffering for the name of Jesus.