First Reading: Acts 4:13-21

¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
¹⁴ But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another,
¹⁶ saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
¹⁷ But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name.”
¹⁸ So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;
²⁰ for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
²¹ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened.