Peter and John walk out of custody under orders never to speak in Jesus’ name again, and they go straight back to the church and pray. Verse 24: “Sovereign Lord.” Then they quote Psalm 2, “the kings of the earth set themselves... against the Lord and against his Anointed,” and they say it happened right here in Jerusalem. Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the peoples of Israel gathered against Jesus “to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.” Now look at what they ask for. Not “make it stop.” Not “keep us safe.” Verse 29: “Look upon their threats, and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.” If God was running things at the cross, he’s running this council too. They didn’t ask him to take the threat away. They asked him to keep the name of Jesus going out. And verse 31 tells you what God did with that prayer.
