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14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word[a] with greater boldness and without fear.

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Footnotes

  1. 1.14 Other ancient authorities read word of God

14 And because of my chains,(A) most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.(B)

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19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,[a](A) 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 6.19 Other ancient authorities lack of the gospel

19 Pray also for me,(A) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly(B) make known the mystery(C) of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador(D) in chains.(E) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

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but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.(A)

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We had previously suffered(A) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,(B) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.(C)

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so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.

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Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

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It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart,[a] for all of you are my partners in God’s grace,[b] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.7 Or because you hold me in your heart
  2. 1.7 Gk in grace

It is right(A) for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart(B) and, whether I am in chains(C) or defending(D) and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.

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74     that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,(A)

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74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him(A) without fear(B)

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Final Greetings and Benediction

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.(A)

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Final Greetings

Tychicus(A) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[a](B) in the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

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Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,(A) my joy and crown, stand firm(B) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

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13 I pray, therefore, that you[a] may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.

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Footnotes

  1. 3.13 Or I

13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

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Paul’s Thanksgiving after Affliction

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation,(A) who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ.(B) If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

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Praise to the God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,(A) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us(B) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,(C) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;(D) if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,(E) so also you share in our comfort.

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The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 After they were released, they went to their own people and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them,(A) 25 it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant:[a]

‘Why did the gentiles rage
    and the peoples imagine vain things?(B)
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
    and the rulers have gathered together
        against the Lord and against his Messiah.’[b](C)

27 “For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant[c] Jesus, whom you anointed,(D) 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,(E) 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant[d] Jesus.”(F) 31 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.25 Or child
  2. 4.26 Or his Christ
  3. 4.27 Or child
  4. 4.30 Or child

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

But I will show you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority[a] to cast into hell.[b] Yes, I tell you, fear that one!(A) Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 12.5 Or power
  2. 12.5 Gk Gehenna

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) Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.(B) Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(C)

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