²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the ^[a]passing pleasures of sin,

¹⁷ For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and when they had ^(A)called for the apostles ^(B)and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ So they departed from the presence of the council, ^(C)rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for ^[a]His name.

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him^(A)

^24 (B)Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and ^(C)follow Me.

²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when ^(A)tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately ^(B)he stumbles.

^29 (A)If your right eye causes you to ^[a]sin, ^(B)pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to ^[b]sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

¹⁰ Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open ^(A)toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees ^(B)three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, ^(A)we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If that is the case, our ^(B)God whom we serve is able to ^(C)deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we ^(D)worship the gold image which you have set up.”