19 But Peter and John answered them, (A)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for (B)we cannot but speak of what (C)we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, (D)because of the people, for all were praising God (E)for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices (F)together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, (G)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,[a] said by the Holy Spirit,

(H)“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and (I)the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his (J)Anointed’[b]

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your (K)holy servant Jesus, (L)whom you anointed, both (M)Herod and (N)Pontius Pilate, along (O)with the Gentiles and (P)the peoples of Israel, 28 (Q)to do whatever your hand and (R)your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, (S)look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all (T)boldness,

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:25 Or child; also verses 27, 30
  2. Acts 4:26 Or Christ

19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?(A) You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking(B) about what we have seen and heard.”(C)

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people(D) were praising God(E) for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers Pray

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.(F) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.(G) 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:(H)

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.[a][b](I)

27 Indeed Herod(J) and Pontius Pilate(K) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,(L) whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.(M) 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ
  2. Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1,2