The law of the Lord(A) is perfect,(B)
    refreshing the soul.(C)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,(D)
    making wise the simple.(E)
The precepts of the Lord are right,(F)
    giving joy(G) to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.(H)
The fear of the Lord(I) is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.(J)

10 They are more precious than gold,(K)
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,(L)
    than honey from the honeycomb.(M)
11 By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.(N)
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;(O)
    may they not rule over me.(P)
Then I will be blameless,(Q)
    innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing(R) in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock(S) and my Redeemer.(T)

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13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.(A) 16 Whenever they have a dispute,(B) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”(C)

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.(D) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(E) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(F) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(G) and show them the way they are to live(H) and how they are to behave.(I) 21 But select capable men(J) from all the people—men who fear(K) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(L)—and appoint them as officials(M) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case(N) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(O) it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders(P) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(Q) 26 They served as judges(R) for the people at all times. The difficult cases(S) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.(T)

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.(U)

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13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John(A) and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,(B) they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.(C) 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin(D) and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?”(E) they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,(F) and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

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

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people(K) were praising God(L) for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

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.(M) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.(N) 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:(O)

“‘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](P)

27 Indeed Herod(Q) and Pontius Pilate(R) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,(S) whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.(T) 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.(U) 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders(V) through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”(W)

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.(X) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit(Y) and spoke the word of God(Z) boldly.(AA)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ
  2. Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1,2

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