¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is ^(A)in Christ, he is ^(B)a new creation.^{[a] (C)}The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, ^(D)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^(E)the ministry of reconciliation;

²⁵ And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison ^(A)are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ Then ^(B)the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for ^(C)they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, ^(D)“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you ^(E)intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, ^(F)“We must obey God rather than men.

³² And ^(A)we are witnesses to these things, and ^(B)so is the Holy Spirit, ^(C)whom God has given to those who obey him.”