The Believers’ Prayer
Released from the council, Peter and John return to their own people and report what was said. The believers respond together in prayer, addressing God as the sovereign Maker of heaven, earth, and sea.
O23n their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
They quote David's words about kings and rulers gathering against the Lord and his Anointed, then name Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, and Israel as those who acted against Jesus in this very city. Even so, those actions did only what God's hand and will had already determined.
25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: 26The kings of the earth take their stand 27In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. 28They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.
The believers ask God to consider the threats, grant bold speech, and keep stretching out his hand to heal and work signs and wonders through Jesus' name. When they finish praying, the place is shaken, they are filled with the Holy Spirit, and they speak God's word with boldness.
29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, 30as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.