Isaiah 45:18-23

New International Version

¹⁸For this is what the Lord says—
he who created the heavens,
    he is God;
he who fashioned and made the earth,^(A)
    he founded it;
he did not create it to be empty,^(B)
    but formed it to be inhabited^(C)—
he says:
“I am the Lord,
    and there is no other.^(D)
¹⁹I have not spoken in secret,^(E)
    from somewhere in a land of darkness;^(F)
I have not said to Jacob’s descendants,^(G)
    ‘Seek^(H) me in vain.’
I, the Lord, speak the truth;
    I declare what is right.^(I)

²⁰“Gather together^(J) and come;
    assemble, you fugitives from the nations.
Ignorant^(K) are those who carry^(L) about idols of wood,
    who pray to gods that cannot save.^(M)
²¹Declare what is to be, present it—
    let them take counsel together.
Who foretold^(N) this long ago,
    who declared it from the distant past?^(O)
Was it not I, the Lord?
    And there is no God apart from me,^(P)
a righteous God^(Q) and a Savior;^(R)
    there is none but me.

²²“Turn^(S) to me and be saved,^(T)
    all you ends of the earth;^(U)
    for I am God, and there is no other.^(V)
²³By myself I have sworn,^(W)
    my mouth has uttered in all integrity^(X)
    a word that will not be revoked:^(Y)
Before me every knee will bow;^(Z)
    by me every tongue will swear.^(AA)

Read full chapter

Acts 4:1-12

New International Version

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard^(A) and the Sadducees^(B) came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ²They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.^(C) ³They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail^(D) until the next day. ⁴But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew^(E) to about five thousand.

⁵The next day the rulers,^(F) the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas,^(G) John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. ⁷They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,^(H) said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!^(I) ⁹If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame^(J) and are being asked how he was healed, ¹⁰then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,^(K) whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,^(L) that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹Jesus is