They made the apostles stand before them and asked them, "How did you do this? What power do you have or whose name did you use?"

In this way they stirred up the people, the elders, and the teachers of the Law. They seized Stephen and took him before the Council.

The commander wanted to find out for sure what the Jews were accusing Paul of; so the next day he had Paul's chains taken off and ordered the chief priests and the whole Council to meet. Then he took Paul and made him stand before them.

Paul looked straight at the Council and said, "My fellow Israelites! My conscience is perfectly clear about the way in which I have lived before God to this very day."

When day came, the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law met together, and Jesus was brought before the Council.