So the officer went off with his men and brought the apostles back. They did not use force, however, because they were afraid that the people might stone them.

Peter and John were still speaking to the people when some priests, the officer in charge of the Temple guards, and some Sadducees arrived.

So Judas went off and spoke with the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them.

Then Jesus said to the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard and the elders who had come there to get him, "Did you have to come with swords and clubs, as though I were an outlaw?

Amazed and confused, they kept asking each other, "What does this mean?"

"What shall we do with these men?" they asked. "Everyone in Jerusalem knows that this extraordinary miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it.

But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn these men never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus."

So the Council warned them even more strongly and then set them free. They saw that it was impossible to punish them, because the people were all praising God for what had happened.

So the Pharisees and the chief priests met with the Council and said, "What shall we do? Look at all the miracles this man is performing!

If we let him go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Roman authorities will take action and destroy our Temple and our nation!"

The Pharisees then said to one another, "You see, we are not succeeding at all! Look, the whole world is following him!"

His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace. He will rule as King David's successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. The LORD Almighty is determined to do all this.

The people reply, "Who would have believed what we now report? Who could have seen the LORD's hand in this?

It was the will of the LORD that his servant grow like a plant taking root in dry ground. He had no dignity or beauty to make us take notice of him. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing that would draw us to him.

While you were looking at it, a great stone broke loose from a cliff without anyone touching it, struck the iron and clay feet of the statue, and shattered them.

At once the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold crumbled and became like the dust on a threshing place in summer. The wind carried it all away, leaving not a trace. But the stone grew to be a mountain that covered the whole earth.

At the time of those rulers the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never end. It will never be conquered, but will completely destroy all those empires and then last forever.

You saw how a stone broke loose from a cliff without anyone touching it and how it struck the statue made of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God is telling Your Majesty what will happen in the future. I have told you exactly what you dreamed, and have given you its true meaning."

Tell him that the LORD Almighty says, 'The man who is called The Branch will flourish where he is and rebuild the LORD's Temple.

He is the one who will build it and receive the honor due a king, and he will rule his people. A priest will stand by his throne, and they will work together in peace and harmony.'

"What shall we say the Kingdom of God is like?" asked Jesus. "What parable shall we use to explain it?

After a while it grows up and becomes the biggest of all plants. It puts out such large branches that the birds come and make their nests in its shade."