¹⁹ Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,^(A) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”^(B) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord^(C) must turn away from wickedness.”

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)

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)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.^{(P) 33} With great power the apostles continued to testify^(Q) to the resurrection^(R) of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace^(S) was so powerfully at work in them all

¹³ Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?”^(A)

Hezekiah’s Prayer^(B)

¹⁴ Hezekiah received the letter^(C) from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. ¹⁵ And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim,^(D) you alone^(E) are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. ¹⁶ Give ear,^(F) Lord, and hear;^(G) open your eyes,^(H) Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

¹⁷ “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. ¹⁸ They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods^(I) but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands.^(J)

¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god^(A) will be able to rescue^(B) you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(C) 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^(D) us from it, and he will deliver^(E) 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.^(F)”

¹⁰ One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple^(A), and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”

¹¹ But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” ¹² I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me^(B) because Tobiah and Sanballat^(C) had hired him.