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 (A)together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, (B)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,

(C)“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and (D)the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his (E)Anointed’[b]

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your (F)holy servant Jesus, (G)whom you anointed, both (H)Herod and (I)Pontius Pilate, along (J)with the Gentiles and (K)the peoples of Israel, 28 (L)to do whatever your hand and (M)your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, (N)look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all (O)boldness, 30 while (P)you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed (Q)through the name of your (R)holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, (S)the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and (T)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and (U)continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:25 Or child; also verses 27, 30
  2. Acts 4:26 Or Christ

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