When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid.

It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe.

The LORD says, "I am the one who strengthens you. Why should you fear mortals, who are no more enduring than grass?

Have you forgotten the LORD who made you, who stretched out the heavens and laid the earth's foundations? Why should you live in constant fear of the fury of those who oppress you, of those who are ready to destroy you? Their fury can no longer touch you.

The LORD says, "Who are these gods that make you afraid, so that you tell me lies and forget me completely? Have you stopped honoring me because I have kept silent for so long?

I will show you whom to fear: fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell. Believe me, he is the one you must fear!

But Peter and John answered them, "You yourselves judge which is right in God's sight---to obey you or to obey God.

Do you rulers ever give a just decision? Do you judge everyone fairly?

No! You think only of the evil you can do, and commit crimes of violence in the land.

"How ignorant you are! How stupid! You are completely corrupt, and justice has disappeared from the world.

But you will die like mortals; your life will end like that of any prince."

You have nothing to do with corrupt judges, who make injustice legal,

who plot against good people and sentence the innocent to death.

Don't be surprised when you see that the government oppresses the poor and denies them justice and their rights. Every official is protected by someone higher, and both are protected by still higher officials.

I kept it from raining when your crops needed it most. I sent rain on one city, but not on another. Rain fell on one field, but another field dried up.