Prayer for Boldness

23 After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.(A) 25 You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant:[a]

Why do the Gentiles rage
and the peoples plot futile things?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers assemble together
against the Lord and against his Messiah.[b](B)

27 “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,(C) 28 to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness,(D) 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders(E) are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:25 Other mss read through the mouth of David your servant
  2. 4:25–26 Ps 2:1–2

23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “[a]Lord, it is You who (A)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, 25 who (B)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

(C)Why were the [b]nations insolent,
And the peoples plotting in vain?
26 (D)The kings of the earth [c]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [d](E)Christ.’

27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy [e](F)servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both (G)Herod and (H)Pontius Pilate, along with (I)the [f]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and (J)purpose predestined to occur. 29 And [g]now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to (K)speak Your word with all (L)confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and [h](M)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy [i](N)servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the (O)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all (P)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (Q)speak the word of God with (R)boldness.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:24 Or Master
  2. Acts 4:25 Or Gentiles
  3. Acts 4:26 Or approached
  4. Acts 4:26 I.e., Messiah
  5. Acts 4:27 Or Son
  6. Acts 4:27 Or nations
  7. Acts 4:29 Or as for the present situation
  8. Acts 4:30 I.e., confirming miracles
  9. Acts 4:30 Or Son