"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed."
Today's quote relates that after determining who Peter and John were, and after finding no way to punish them, because so many had witnessed the healing miracle they had performed through the power of the Holy Ghost, the Jewish leadership gave Peter and John a warning, then let them go.
This lesson marks the beginning of a campaign by the leaders of the Jews to have the Apostles killed or otherwise discredited.
As the New Testament tells us in the upcoming lessons, the Jews would not go away easily, they tried everything in their power to destroy Christianity and the true Church. They would even convince some of the early Christians that they should incorporate Jewish law and tradition into the worship practices of the Church. This is evidenced by the ritualistic way most modern "Church" services are administered and by some of their practices, such as water baptism.~
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