How do Peter and John respond to the speech prohibition?

While Peter and John speak, priests, the temple officer and Sadducees come, grieved at their teaching and preaching resurrection in Jesus. They seize and hold them until next day because it is evening. Many hearers believe and the men’s number becomes 5000. Next day princes, ancients and scribes gather in Jerusalem with Annas the high priest, Caiphas, John, Alexander and the high priest’s kindred. Setting them in the midst, they ask the deed’s power and name. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, addresses the princes and ancients: if examined about the infirm man’s good deed and wholeness, they and Israel should know Jesus Christ of Nazareth’s name made him stand whole, Jesus whom they crucified and God raised. He is the rejected builders’ stone become corner head; salvation is in no other name under heaven given to men.

Seeing Peter and John’s constancy, understanding they are illiterate and ignorant and recognizing they were with Jesus, the authorities wonder. The healed man stands with them and they cannot speak against it. The authorities send the two outside the council to confer. The miracle is manifest and known throughout Jerusalem, so they cannot deny it. To stop further spread they decide threats against speaking in the name to any man. Calling them back, they forbid speaking and teaching in Jesus’s name. Peter and John ask them to judge whether hearing them rather than God is just before God, saying they cannot but speak what they saw and heard. The authorities threaten and send them away, finding no way to punish because the people glorify the event. The man cured is above 40.

Released, they tell their company the chief priests’ and ancients’ words. The company lifts its voice with one accord to God, creator of heaven, earth, sea and all within. It quotes David through the Holy Ghost about Gentile rage, people’s vain meditation and kings and princes assembled against Lord and Christ. Herod and Pontius Pilate with Gentiles and Israel’s people assembled in this city against His anointed holy child Jesus to do what His hand and counsel decreed. The prayer asks Him to behold threats and give servants confidence to speak, stretching His hand to cures, signs and wonders in His holy Son Jesus’s name. After prayer their assembly place is moved, all are filled with the Holy Ghost and speak confidently.

The believers have one heart and soul, claiming no possessions as their own but having all common. Apostles testify with great power to Jesus Christ’s resurrection and great grace is in all. None is needy: land and house owners sell, bring the prices to the apostles’ feet and distribution follows each need. Joseph, surnamed Barnabas by apostles, meaning son of consolation, a Cyprus-born Levite, sells his land and lays its price at their feet.