Acts 4:18-22 We Cannot Not

As you recall, the Sanhedrin has concluded, look, we got nothing.

We have nothing to say, literally.

We have nothing to say in response to Peter and John.

They go out, they confer with one another, and their conclusion is, okay, they just can't talk about this anymore.

They cannot speak.

That's the charge.

You are not to speak in this name anywhere at all, ever.

You're not supposed to teach it.

You're not supposed to preach it.

You're not supposed to talk about it in private.

That's what the charge was in verse 17.

Verse 18 says, It says, so they called them.

Now they're bringing them back into the room.

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Verse 17, this is what we're going to do.

Verse 18, they bring them in.

This is what they're doing.

The thing they said they were going to do.

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.

For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.

And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people.

For all were praising God for what had happened.

For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than 40 years old.

That is a very powerful, very meaningful response that Peter and John give to this demand.