How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #1
"The God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One […] and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses […] In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer." (Acts 3:13-15, 18, NRSV)
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just[…] And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses[…] But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. (Acts 3:13-15, 18, KJV)
Yikes. This is a pretty harsh condemnation. God knew that Jesus would have to suffer because God knows that people can be jerks sometimes. Murderous jerks that is.
Quote #2
"Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." When [the apostles] had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29-31, NRSV)
Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29-31, KJV)
Even in the face of threats and mortal danger, the apostles still pray for the strength to keep going. Good thing, too, because they're gonna need it.
Quote #3
They had [the apostles] flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. (Acts 5:40-42, NRSV)
When they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:40-42, KJV)
Woo-hoo! A flogging! High fives all around! The apostles get brutally beaten because of the things they've been saying about Jesus. Do they stop? Nope, they just give thanks and keep on trucking.