⁸ At this time some astrologers^[a](A) came forward and denounced the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!^{(B) 10} Your Majesty has issued a decree^(C) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,^{(D) 11} and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. ¹² But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(E)—who pay no attention^(F) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”^(G)

¹³ Furious^(H) with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴ and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods^(I) or worship the image^(J) of gold I have set up? ¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god^(K) will be able to rescue^(L) you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(M) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver^(N) us from it, and he will deliver^(O) us^[b] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.^(P)”

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven^(Q) times hotter than usual ²⁰ and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(R) and throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹ So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. ²² The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,^{(S) 23} and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

²⁵ He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God,^(T) come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers^(U) crowded around them.^(V) They saw that the fire^(W) had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel^(X) and rescued^(Y) his servants! They trusted^(Z) in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.^(AA)

Psalm 2

⁷ I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

²⁶ “Fellow children of Abraham^(A) and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation^(B) has been sent. ²⁷ The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus,^(C) yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets^(D) that are read every Sabbath. ²⁸ Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.^{(E) 29} When they had carried out all that was written about him,^(F) they took him down from the cross^(G) and laid him in a tomb.^{(H) 30} But God raised him from the dead,^{(I) 31} and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.^(J) They are now his witnesses^(K) to our people.

³² “We tell you the good news:^(L) What God promised our ancestors^{(M) 33} he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.^(N) As it is written in the second Psalm:

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”^(A)

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.^{(B) 38} He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see;^(C) a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.^(D)

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you:^(E) Everything must be fulfilled^(F) that is written about me in the Law of Moses,^(G) the Prophets^(H) and the Psalms.”^(I)

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer^(J) and rise from the dead on the third day,^{(K) 47} and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name^(L) to all nations,^(M) beginning at Jerusalem.^{(N) 48} You are witnesses^(O) of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised;^(P) but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”