^5 (A)No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just ^(B)as I was with Moses, so ^(C)I will be with you. ^(D)I will not leave you or forsake you. ^6 (E)Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and ^(F)very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law ^(G)that Moses my servant commanded you. ^(H)Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success^[a] wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but ^(I)you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? ^(J)Be strong and courageous. ^(K)Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

^13 (A)Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But seeing the man who was healed ^(B)standing beside them, ^(C)they had nothing to say in opposition. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, ¹⁶ saying, ^(D)“What shall we do with these men? For that ^(E)a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them ^(F)to speak no more to anyone in this name.” ¹⁸ So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, ^(G)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, ²⁰ for ^(H)we cannot but speak of what ^(I)we have seen and heard.” ²¹ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, ^(J)because of the people, for all were praising God ^(K)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 ^(L)together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, ^(M)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,

²⁷ for truly in this city there were gathered together against your ^(Q)holy servant Jesus, ^(R)whom you anointed, both ^(S)Herod and ^(T)Pontius Pilate, along ^(U)with the Gentiles and ^(V)the peoples of Israel, ^28 (W)to do whatever your hand and ^(X)your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, Lord, ^(Y)look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all ^(Z)boldness, ³⁰ while ^(AA)you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed ^(AB)through the name of your ^(AC)holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, ^(AD)the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and ^(AE)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and ^(AF)continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(A)be strong in the Lord and in ^(B)the strength of his might. ^11 (C)Put on ^(D)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against ^(E)the schemes of the devil. ¹² For ^(F)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(G)the rulers, against the authorities, against ^(H)the cosmic powers over ^(I)this present darkness, against ^(J)the spiritual forces of evil ^(K)in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore ^(L)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in ^(M)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, ^(N)having fastened on the belt of truth, and ^(O)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, ^(P)as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up ^(Q)the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all ^(R)the flaming darts of ^(S)the evil one; ¹⁷ and take ^(T)the helmet of salvation, and ^(U)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying ^(V)at all times ^(W)in the Spirit, ^(X)with all prayer and supplication. To that end, ^(Y)keep alert with all perseverance, making ^(Z)supplication for all the saints,