While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,(A) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work(B) to which I have called them.”(C) So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them(D) and sent them off.(E)

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15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin(A) and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?”(B) they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,(C) 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.(D) 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?(E) You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking(F) about what we have seen and heard.”(G)

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people(H) were praising God(I) 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.(J) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.(K) 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:(L)

“‘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](M)

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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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