¹⁷ The midwives, however, feared^(A) God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do;^(B) they let the boys live.

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!^(A)

²¹ And because the midwives feared^(A) God, he gave them families^(B) of their own.

⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.^(A)

²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One^(A) who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

¹⁸ Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.^{(A) 19} But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?^(B) You be the judges! ²⁰ As for us, we cannot help speaking^(C) about what we have seen and heard.”^(D)

¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,^(A) pays no attention^(B) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(A) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver^(B) us from it, and he will deliver^(C) us^[a] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.^(D)”