21And 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.
A direct refusal to obey the order of the council would immediately render the apostles in contempt of court and liable to further punishment.1 The Jewish leaders’ opposition to the preaching of the gospel would escalate to flogging (Acts 5:40) and even killing Jesus’ witnesses (Acts 7:54–60).2
21 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.