At daybreak ¹  the magistrates ²  sent their police officers, ³  saying, “Release those men.”

When ¹  they had brought them ²  before the magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion. ³  They are ⁴  Jews

The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas ¹  were Roman citizens ² 

The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, ¹  “The magistrates have sent orders ²  to release you. So come out now and go in peace.” ³ 

The crowd joined the attack ¹  against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes ²  off Paul and Silas ³  and ordered them to be beaten with rods. ⁴ 

“Now you, Ezra, in keeping with the wisdom of your God which you possess, ¹  appoint judges ²  and court officials who can arbitrate cases on behalf of all the people who are in Trans-Euphrates who know the laws of your God. Those who do not know this law should be taught.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent out a summons to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, ¹  and all the other authorities of the province to attend the dedication of the statue that he ²  had erected.

But when they bring you before the synagogues, ¹  the ²  rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defense ³  or what you should say,

Remind them to be subject to rulers and ¹  authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.

So the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other provincial authorities assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. They were standing in front of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected. ¹ 

He says, ¹  “How long will you make unjust legal decisions and show favoritism to the wicked? ²  (Selah)

Those who enact unjust policies are as good as dead, ¹  those who are always instituting unfair regulations, ² 

On the next day, ¹  their rulers, elders, and experts in the law ²  came together ³  in Jerusalem. ⁴ 

A psalm of Asaph. God stands in ²  the assembly of El; ³  in the midst of the gods ⁴  he renders judgment. ⁵ 

They ¹  neither know nor understand. They stumble ²  around in the dark, while all the foundations of the earth crumble. ³ 

Do not go out hastily to litigation, ¹  or ²  what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame?

The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing, for up to this point I had not told any of the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the officials or the rest of the workers.

Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold, instead of iron, I will bring you silver, instead of wood, I will bring you ¹  bronze, instead of stones, I will bring you ²  iron. I will make prosperity ³  your overseer, and vindication your sovereign ruler. ⁴