A Vital Church Grows

⁴⁰ And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this ^[a]perverse generation.”

⁴¹ Then those who ^[a]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said to them, ^(A)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.

²⁸ saying, ^(A)“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, ^(B)and intend to bring this Man’s ^(C)blood on us!”

²⁹ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ^(A)“We ought to obey God rather than men.

²³ except that ^(A)the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

^3 (A)that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that ^(B)we are appointed to this.

²⁸ and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but ^[a]to you of salvation, and that from God.

²⁹ For to you ^(A)it has been granted on behalf of Christ, ^(B)not only to believe in Him, but also to ^(C)suffer for His sake,

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, ^(A)we have no need to answer you in this matter.