Live ¹  as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves. ² 

For we never appeared ¹  with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness –

He replied, ¹  “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council ²  tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him.

If you say, ‘How we will pursue him, since the root of the trouble is found in him!’ ¹ 

One who has isolated himself ¹  seeks his own desires; ²  he rejects ³  all sound judgment.

So these men concluded, ¹  “We won’t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is ²  in connection with the law of his God.”

So now you and the council ¹  request the commanding officer ²  to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine ³  his case ⁴  by conducting a more thorough inquiry. ⁵  We are ready to kill him ⁶  before he comes near this place.” ⁷ 

Now his father and mother did not realize this was the Lord’s doing, ¹  because he was looking for an opportunity to stir up trouble with the Philistines ²  (for at that time the Philistines were ruling Israel).

Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending ¹  that they were going to put out anchors from the bow,

Consequently the supervisors and satraps were trying to find ¹  some pretext against Daniel in connection with administrative matters. ²  But they were unable to find any such damaging evidence, ³  because he was trustworthy and guilty of no negligence or corruption. ⁴