Peter and John healed a lame man in the name of Jesus; then Peter preached a sermon about the Lord Jesus Christ. 
  Many people saw the miraculous healing and heard that Jesus was resurrected from the dead.  (Acts 3:1-9)

  The priests and Sadducees arrested these two men, holding them in jail overnight.  Then Peter and John were brought into the Council of Seventy (the Sanhedrin).  Then Peter declared that the lame man was made well through the power of the resurrected Jesus Christ.  Peter then went on to say that the men in the Council were responsible for the death of Jesus, but God’s power had resurrected Him. 
  Many men believed in Jesus because of Peter’s actions and words through the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 4:1-4)
  Peter and John were brought before the Council and they had bold confidence in the face of their accusers.  They did not back down or deny their faith in Jesus Christ.  (Acts 4:13) 

(NASB) Acts 4:15-18 “But when they (the Council) had ordered them (Peter and John) to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another,
16 saying, ‘What shall we do with these men?  For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”
  [They couldn’t deny the miracle by lying about it.  The lame man who had been healed was standing there!]
17 ‘But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.’
18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” 

  How did Peter and John respond to these commands given by this legal body of men?
(NASB) Acts 4:19-20 “But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;
20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ 

  Your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are being commanded to renounce, deny and turn from their faith in the living Lord Jesus Christ Who is their beloved Savior and their Redeemer.
  Followers of Christ, how are you praying for them? 

  Will you pray for them to stand firm in their faith and be confident as they witness to those who are persecuting them?