¹⁷ Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”

But the king’s officials were unwilling^(A) to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

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

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

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!^(A)