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The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 After they were released, Peter and John[a] went to their fellow believers[b] and told them everything the high priests and the elders had said. 24 When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, “Master, you made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 25 You said by the Holy Spirit through the voice of our ancestor, your servant David,

‘Why do the unbelievers[c] rage,
    and the people devise useless plots?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand,
    and rulers meet together against the Lord[d]
        and against his Messiah.’[e]

27 For in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate actually met together with unbelievers[f] and the people of Israel to oppose your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to carry out everything that your hand and will had predetermined to take place. 29 Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow your servants to speak your word boldly 30 as you stretch out your hand to heal and to perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 When they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak messages from[g] God boldly.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:23 Lit. released, they
  2. Acts 4:23 Lit. their own
  3. Acts 4:25 Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews
  4. Acts 4:26 MT source citation reads Lord
  5. Acts 4:26 Or Christ; cf. Ps 2:1-2
  6. Acts 4:27 Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews
  7. Acts 4:31 Lit. speak the word of

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.(A) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.(B) 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:(C)

“‘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](D)

27 Indeed Herod(E) and Pontius Pilate(F) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,(G) whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.(H) 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.(I) 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders(J) through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”(K)

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.(L) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit(M) and spoke the word of God(N) boldly.(O)

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Footnotes

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