⁸ Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom,^(A) keeping themselves separate. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws.^(B) It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.^(C)

¹² There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.^(A) These men have ignored you,^(B) the king; they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

²⁹ Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.