# Miracle Hunters: Daniel in the Lions Den

An episode of [Saints Alive Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1598392451), 2 Mar 2026, 24 min.

Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882754/episodes/18774823-miracle-hunters-daniel-in-the-lions-den.mp3

Step onto the basketball court with Paul and his team as fear meets faith. When Paul's friend, Leo hesitates to make the shot, his coach has a story to help him face his fear: Daniel in the Lions Den! Dive into this incredible story and our very first Old Testament episode today! This episode is a special public release of the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den that is part of our Hallow exclusive Lenten series for families: The Miracle Hunters! Tune in to a new episode everyday by joining the challenge on Hallow! Saints Alive is brought to you by the #1 Catholic Prayer App, Hallow! Sign up today with a 30-day free trial! Please rate, review and share with friends and family! Find out more about Saints Alive at our website: https://www.saintsalivepodcast.com/

## Transcript

[0:08] SPEAKER_02: Welcome back.
[0:09] SPEAKER_02: Today we'll meet Paul on the basketball court and hear a miracle story from the old testament.
[0:15] SPEAKER_02: Daniel in the lion's den.
[0:18] SPEAKER_01: Eyes open.
[0:20] SPEAKER_01: Eyes open.
[0:20] SPEAKER_01: Pass it.
[0:21] SPEAKER_01: Pass it back, Paul.
[0:22] SPEAKER_01: Leo, you're good.
[0:25] SPEAKER_01: Take the shot.
[0:26] SPEAKER_01: Now's your chance.
[0:32] SPEAKER_01: Alright, that was.
[0:33] SPEAKER_01: This is why we call it Rackness.
[0:36] SPEAKER_00: Sorry, Coach.
[0:38] SPEAKER_01: Leo, don't be.
[0:39] SPEAKER_01: It's how we learn.
[0:40] SPEAKER_00: I knew I only had a second to make this shot, but I just sort of froze up.
[0:45] SPEAKER_00: I couldn't move.
[0:46] SPEAKER_00: Like Iceman.
[0:48] SPEAKER_00: Who?
[0:48] SPEAKER_01: Never mind Brad's superhero references.
[0:51] SPEAKER_01: I can't keep up with him either.
[0:52] SPEAKER_01: But listen, Leo.
[0:54] SPEAKER_01: Do you know what was stopping you from taking that shot?
[0:56] SPEAKER_01: Iceman?
[0:57] SPEAKER_01: No.
[0:58] SPEAKER_01: You didn't believe you could make it.
[1:01] SPEAKER_01: You let fear settle in.
[1:03] SPEAKER_01: You know who I always like to think of when I'm afraid?
[1:06] SPEAKER_00: Who?
[1:07] SPEAKER_01: Daniel.
[1:08] SPEAKER_01: Daniel?
[1:09] SPEAKER_01: Oh come on, Daniel! The Daniel! There are a lot of Daniels.
[1:14] SPEAKER_01: But only one who survived the Lion's Den.
[1:17] SPEAKER_00: I know where this is going.
[1:19] SPEAKER_00: You know what?
[1:21] SPEAKER_01: Have a seat, boys.
[1:22] SPEAKER_01: I'm pretty sure this story will serve you more than any other drill I could come up with in the last five minutes of practice.
[1:29] SPEAKER_01: Now, where do we begin?
[1:42] SPEAKER_06: It is said that the lion is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any.
[1:51] SPEAKER_06: But I am here to tell you of a time when they did turn back.
[1:57] SPEAKER_06: My name is Daniel.
[1:59] SPEAKER_06: I was born of the tribe of Judah and proud of my noble family.
[2:05] SPEAKER_06: Yet I was humbled when the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem and took us all captive.
[2:13] SPEAKER_06: The king of Babylon valued my learning and wisdom and brought me to live in his royal palace.
[2:20] SPEAKER_06: Yet, still, I yearned for the Lord God to show our enemies his might.
[2:30] SPEAKER_06: For years I turned to prayer, and on a dark, cold night, heaven finally broke through and shone light on my troubled world.
[2:46] SPEAKER_09: Lord, my refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.
[2:53] SPEAKER_09: How long must we wait?
[2:59] SPEAKER_02: O Daniel, your prayer is heard in heaven.
[3:03] SPEAKER_02: Who are you?
[3:07] SPEAKER_02: I am Gabriel, who stands before the throne of the Lord God.
[3:13] unknown: Why?
[3:14] SPEAKER_09: Why are you here?
[3:17] SPEAKER_02: I have come to give you wisdom and understanding.
[3:20] SPEAKER_02: At the beginning of your supplications, a word went forth, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly beloved.
[3:29] SPEAKER_02: Due to their transgressions, your people have seventy weeks of years to wait to bring in everlasting righteousness.
[3:39] SPEAKER_09: Seventy weeks of years.
[3:42] SPEAKER_09: Four hundred and ninety years more to wait.
[3:47] SPEAKER_09: I cannot endure it.
[3:50] SPEAKER_02: You will endure it.
[3:53] SPEAKER_02: For he commands his angels with regard to you to guard you wherever you go.
[3:59] SPEAKER_02: You can tread upon the viper and trample the lion.
[4:03] SPEAKER_02: Remember God's word.
[4:06] SPEAKER_02: Because he clings to me, he will call upon me and I will answer.
[4:11] SPEAKER_02: I will be with him in distress.
[4:13] SPEAKER_02: I will deliver him and give him honor.
[4:18] SPEAKER_02: The Lord's will be done.
[4:21] SPEAKER_02: Be patient, Daniel, and persevere.
[4:45] SPEAKER_06: My patience, strengthened by heaven, helped me endure years of royal servitude.
[4:52] SPEAKER_06: Finally, a new king took the throne and was impressed by my learning.
[5:00] SPEAKER_06: He took me into his royal court and made me a prince, along with two other Babylonian nobles.
[5:08] SPEAKER_06: Namtar and Siber.
[5:12] SPEAKER_05: Daniel! Daniel! Daniel! Wait up!
[5:17] SPEAKER_09: Oh, good morning, Namtar.
[5:19] SPEAKER_09: Sibir.
[5:19] SPEAKER_09: And why are you in such a hurry?
[5:22] SPEAKER_09: You look paler than usual.
[5:24] SPEAKER_05: Yes, are you not sleeping again?
[5:27] SPEAKER_09: I can always be sure to be made aware of my imperfections when you two are nearby.
[5:32] SPEAKER_09: If I am pale, it must be that I have no time for the sun.
[5:37] SPEAKER_09: No time for the sun?
[5:39] SPEAKER_09: You take your duties too seriously.
[5:42] SPEAKER_09: I have to.
[5:44] SPEAKER_09: As princes, we hold the welfare of the people in our hands.
[5:48] SPEAKER_09: To be honest, there are times that I feel I am not up to the task.
[5:53] SPEAKER_04: Oh, please.
[5:54] SPEAKER_04: You know King Darius thinks otherwise.
[5:57] SPEAKER_04: He is very impressed by your many talents.
[6:01] SPEAKER_09: Whatever it is that pleases Darius is not my own, but from the Lord God.
[6:06] SPEAKER_09: Don't be shy, Daniel.
[6:09] SPEAKER_07: We know it is this God of yours which keeps you up at night.
[6:14] SPEAKER_07: He requires so much of you.
[6:17] SPEAKER_05: Yes, why should you bother giving worship to God?
[6:21] SPEAKER_05: What has he done for you?
[6:23] SPEAKER_05: You've been a captive here in Babylon since you were fourteen years old.
[6:27] SPEAKER_07: And with no sign of deliverance, might I add.
[6:31] SPEAKER_09: Deliverance will come in God's good time.
[6:35] SPEAKER_09: I must be going.
[6:37] SPEAKER_09: The king has requested that I pay him a visit, and I don't want to be late.
[6:41] SPEAKER_09: Good day to you, both.
[6:47] SPEAKER_03: Did you hear what he said?
[6:50] SPEAKER_05: That he's too busy for the sun.
[6:53] SPEAKER_05: It honestly only takes about an hour of lounging to really get a tan started.
[6:58] SPEAKER_03: No, you fool! What he said about deliverance.
[7:04] SPEAKER_05: Oh yes.
[7:06] SPEAKER_03: That yes.
[7:09] SPEAKER_05: What did he mean?
[7:12] SPEAKER_03: Sounds like treason to me.
[7:16] SPEAKER_03: Seabray, I think this is the window we've been waiting for.
[7:24] SPEAKER_03: Indeed, we must act quiet.
[7:28] SPEAKER_03: Follow me.
[7:30] SPEAKER_07: I know where we can overhear what the king has to say to Daniel.
[7:42] SPEAKER_09: Come in.
[7:44] SPEAKER_09: King Darius.
[7:46] SPEAKER_09: You called for me?
[7:47] SPEAKER_07: Daniel! Yes! Please, enter, enter! It is so good to see you.
[7:52] SPEAKER_07: Thank you for coming here at this early hour.
[7:55] SPEAKER_07: There is much on my mind.
[7:58] SPEAKER_07: Come, walk with me.
[8:04] SPEAKER_09: What is it that troubles you?
[8:08] SPEAKER_07: This crown feels heavier by the day.
[8:14] SPEAKER_07: I have 120 satraps from across my kingdom.
[8:19] SPEAKER_07: A spirit of schism and division is rampant among them.
[8:24] SPEAKER_07: Each claims that his own god will deliver them from my rule.
[8:30] SPEAKER_09: Do you think these gods have power to accomplish this?
[8:33] SPEAKER_07: What does it matter if the gods have power?
[8:35] SPEAKER_07: It is enough for them only to believe it.
[8:40] SPEAKER_09: Give them something better to believe.
[8:44] SPEAKER_07: And what might that be?
[8:45] SPEAKER_09: The truth.
[8:47] SPEAKER_07: Speak the truth to them.
[8:49] SPEAKER_07: Sometimes your speech is riddles to me, Daniel.
[8:53] SPEAKER_07: But I never tire of your counsel.
[9:02] SPEAKER_05: So the king has caught wind of the dissension among the say traps.
[9:09] SPEAKER_05: Good work, Namtor.
[9:11] SPEAKER_07: It was simple.
[9:13] SPEAKER_07: A little rumour here, a small deception there.
[9:17] SPEAKER_03: Sooner or later, a spider web of strife will spin itself.
[9:23] SPEAKER_03: Ah, yes, the king is losing control.
[9:27] SPEAKER_03: And what do kings do when they lose control?
[9:32] SPEAKER_03: They go to jail.
[9:35] SPEAKER_03: Yes.
[9:36] SPEAKER_03: What?
[9:37] SPEAKER_03: No! They demand absolute allegiance.
[9:40] SPEAKER_05: Allegiance! Yes! Yes, of course, I knew that.
[9:44] SPEAKER_05: But hang on, how will this destroy Daniel?
[9:46] SPEAKER_05: Through his devotion to his god!
[9:50] SPEAKER_03: But all people have devotion to their own god.
[9:54] SPEAKER_03: Yes, but each sees their god as one among many.
[9:59] SPEAKER_07: Daniel sees his god as Lord alone.
[10:03] SPEAKER_05: Let us see if his god can save him.
[10:15] SPEAKER_06: And so Nantar and Sybir set a subtle plan in motion to destroy me.
[10:23] SPEAKER_05: King Darius, we have something urgent to discuss with you.
[10:28] SPEAKER_07: Can it wait till the morning?
[10:29] SPEAKER_07: I'm afraid not, sire.
[10:31] SPEAKER_07: News of the disunity of your kingdom is spreading among your enemies.
[10:36] SPEAKER_07: You dare to think you know more of my kingdom than I do myself.
[10:40] SPEAKER_07: We only come to offer a solution, my king.
[10:44] SPEAKER_07: I am not interested in your solution.
[10:46] SPEAKER_07: Daniel's wisdom is sufficient here.
[10:49] SPEAKER_07: Daniel is a good man.
[10:52] SPEAKER_07: Maybe even a wise man.
[10:55] SPEAKER_07: But he is too idealistic.
[10:59] SPEAKER_07: You face a dire situation.
[11:02] SPEAKER_07: One which requires that you show strength.
[11:06] SPEAKER_05: Your Highness, you do not want to appear uh weak, do you?
[11:12] SPEAKER_05: Weak?
[11:14] SPEAKER_07: You have the temerity to call the King of Persia weak?
[11:18] SPEAKER_05: Oh, oh no, Your Majesty.
[11:20] SPEAKER_05: You are the supreme ruler, the mightiest man in the realm, but we have consulted with the satraps, the senators, and the judges.
[11:29] SPEAKER_05: They all desire your welfare, and have requested that an imperial decree be published to solidify your control.
[11:38] SPEAKER_07: And what will this decree state?
[11:43] SPEAKER_05: That whosoever shall ask any petition of any god or man for thirty days but of thee, O King, shall be cast into the Den of Lions.
[11:55] SPEAKER_07: The den of lions?
[11:56] SPEAKER_07: It is the only way, your highness.
[12:00] SPEAKER_07: You cannot lose control.
[12:02] SPEAKER_07: Very well.
[12:04] SPEAKER_07: Issue the decree.
[12:10] SPEAKER_06: And so, with the decree having become law, my daily prayers became an offense punishable by death.
[12:19] SPEAKER_06: In the privacy of my upper chamber, I found the windows facing Jerusalem and fell to my knees to pray and thank God as I had always done.
[12:32] SPEAKER_09: My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.
[12:37] SPEAKER_09: You shall not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.
[12:43] SPEAKER_09: Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come.
[12:51] SPEAKER_09: You need simply watch.
[12:54] SPEAKER_09: The punishment of the wicked you will see.
[12:58] SPEAKER_06: But I wasn't alone.
[13:04] SPEAKER_05: Daniel, Daniel, Daniel.
[13:08] SPEAKER_05: How foolish not to lock your door.
[13:11] SPEAKER_09: Sibir, Namta.
[13:14] SPEAKER_09: This is my own private room.
[13:17] SPEAKER_09: Please don't do this.
[13:19] SPEAKER_09: It is already done.
[13:23] SPEAKER_05: Gods, seize him!
[13:38] SPEAKER_07: Order! Order!
[13:43] SPEAKER_05: My king, did you not sign a decree that any man who makes petition to any god or man except to you shall be cast into the lion's den?
[13:53] SPEAKER_07: Yes, of course.
[13:55] SPEAKER_07: That is correct.
[13:56] SPEAKER_07: The thing stands fast according to law, which cannot be revoked.
[14:02] SPEAKER_07: Well then, guards, bring out Daniel.
[14:17] SPEAKER_07: What is the meaning of this?
[14:19] SPEAKER_07: Why is Daniel in chains?
[14:22] SPEAKER_05: This Daniel pays no heed to you, O king, but makes petition to his God alone.
[14:31] SPEAKER_07: It is true, O king.
[14:33] SPEAKER_07: We have spied on him for weeks and have our witnesses.
[14:38] SPEAKER_07: Daniel?
[14:39] SPEAKER_07: What have you to say?
[14:42] SPEAKER_09: I say that the truth will prevail.
[14:48] SPEAKER_09: You need simply watch.
[14:51] SPEAKER_09: The punishment of the wicked you will see.
[14:55] SPEAKER_03: Will this truth keep lion's jaws from grinding your bones to dust?
[15:01] SPEAKER_07: You trusted in God.
[15:03] SPEAKER_07: Let's see if he will deliver you now.
[15:07] SPEAKER_07: Take him away.
[15:13] SPEAKER_06: The gods stripped me of my clothes and led me down dark labyrinthine corridors.
[15:23] SPEAKER_06: Sparks of fire from the torches licked the moist ceiling, and a smell of dank earth, mixed with my fear, overwhelming me.
[15:35] SPEAKER_06: Alt! Open the gates.
[15:40] SPEAKER_06: Quickly, they took me by the arms and legs and threw me down a hole in the wall.
[15:51] SPEAKER_06: They rolled a large stone upon the mouth of the den, sealing me in utter darkness.
[15:59] SPEAKER_06: Above the pounding of my heart, I could hear the soft scamper of many padded feet.
[16:08] SPEAKER_06: And I sensed the smooth, stealthy strides across the cave floor.
[16:14] SPEAKER_09: My refuge and fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
[16:18] SPEAKER_09: My refuge and fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
[16:24] SPEAKER_09: My refuge and fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
[16:29] SPEAKER_09: Your faithfulness is a protecting shield.
[16:33] SPEAKER_06: The beast's warm, moist breath stirred my hair as they circled me, stalking their prey.
[16:40] SPEAKER_06: With my eyes closed tight, trusting in God, I waited for his deliverance, which would be found in the snap of the lion's jaws.
[16:51] SPEAKER_06: Be patient and persevere.
[16:54] SPEAKER_08: Be patient and persevere.
[16:59] SPEAKER_08: Be patient and persevere.
[17:14] SPEAKER_06: Then, after what seemed like an eternity, I slowly opened my eyes.
[17:21] SPEAKER_06: And there before me was another light.
[17:25] SPEAKER_06: I looked around in astonishment to find that the lions had stopped pacing.
[17:30] SPEAKER_06: One by one, they bowed their heads toward the source of the light and lay down around me.
[17:38] SPEAKER_06: It was Gabriel.
[17:43] SPEAKER_06: He was standing with his hand outstretched, taping the lions and bathing the cave in restful splendor.
[17:52] SPEAKER_06: Gabriel!
[17:54] SPEAKER_02: Fear not, Daniel, for you are greatly beloved.
[17:59] SPEAKER_02: Because you clung to him, he has delivered you.
[18:03] SPEAKER_02: Because you know his name, he will set you on high.
[18:09] SPEAKER_02: You have called upon him, and he has answered.
[18:13] SPEAKER_02: He is with you in your distress.
[18:17] SPEAKER_02: He has delivered you and will give you honor.
[18:31] SPEAKER_06: At break of day, after a sleepless and tormenting night, King Darius ran to the den, filled with remorse.
[18:44] SPEAKER_07: What have I done?
[18:47] SPEAKER_07: What have I done?
[18:52] SPEAKER_07: What is it, your majesty?
[18:54] SPEAKER_07: This was wrong.
[18:56] SPEAKER_07: What you had me do?
[18:58] SPEAKER_07: What I did.
[19:02] SPEAKER_05: Your majesty, Daniel sealed his own fate when he disobeyed your law.
[19:09] SPEAKER_07: Daniel was just a man.
[19:13] SPEAKER_07: He followed a higher law.
[19:16] SPEAKER_07: Guards, remove the stone.
[19:19] SPEAKER_07: O King, there will be nothing left of him.
[19:24] SPEAKER_07: The lions had not eaten for days.
[19:27] SPEAKER_07: Remove the stone.
[19:35] SPEAKER_07: Daniel, are you there?
[19:38] SPEAKER_07: My king, it is of no use.
[19:41] SPEAKER_07: Servant of the living God! Has your God, whom you serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?
[19:53] SPEAKER_04: Look! The lions are coming! But look, there's someone with them.
[20:04] SPEAKER_07: It's Daniel!
[20:13] SPEAKER_09: King Darius.
[20:15] SPEAKER_09: My God sent his angel and shut the lion's mouths.
[20:19] SPEAKER_09: And they have not hurt me.
[20:22] SPEAKER_09: Because I was found blameless before him.
[20:25] SPEAKER_09: And also before you, O King.
[20:29] SPEAKER_09: I have done no wrong.
[20:31] SPEAKER_07: Daniel! Oh, Daniel! Your God would not ease my conscience.
[20:39] SPEAKER_07: Forgive me, Daniel! Gods, help him out of that dam! Put a purple robe around him and a gold ring on his finger.
[20:50] SPEAKER_07: Never again will I distrust Daniel or his God.
[20:56] SPEAKER_07: As for you, Namtar and Sibri, may you discover whether treachery and deception will deliver you from a lion's hunger.
[21:06] SPEAKER_07: Guards! Throw them into the lion's den.
[21:10] SPEAKER_07: My king, but this is against your decree!
[21:26] SPEAKER_06: The Lord in his faithfulness showed his power in delivering me from the jaws of the lion.
[21:34] SPEAKER_06: King Darius saw and believed, and he wrote to all the people in his kingdom.
[21:42] SPEAKER_07: To my subjects, near and afar, peace be to you.
[21:50] SPEAKER_07: I make a decree that in all my royal dominion men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
[22:02] SPEAKER_07: For he is the living God enduring forever.
[22:08] SPEAKER_07: His kingdom shall never end.
[22:11] SPEAKER_07: He delivers and rescues.
[22:14] SPEAKER_07: He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.
[22:20] SPEAKER_07: He who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.
[22:43] SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that was pretty inspiring.
[22:46] SPEAKER_01: You know what?
[22:47] SPEAKER_01: I take back what I said.
[22:48] SPEAKER_01: We are gonna practice one more play.
[22:52] SPEAKER_00: You're gonna make me try to make that shot again, aren't you?
[22:55] SPEAKER_01: Oh, you bet I am.
[22:57] SPEAKER_00: I knew it.
[22:58] SPEAKER_01: Alright, everybody in the same spot they were, and we'll begin with Paul passing the ball to Leo.
[23:04] SPEAKER_01: Come on, let's show some hustle.
[23:06] SPEAKER_01: Alright, on my whistle.
[23:09] SPEAKER_01: Come on, Leo.
[23:10] SPEAKER_01: It's all you.
[23:13] SPEAKER_01: There you go! That's what I'm talking about! Woo! Great shot, Leo.
[23:18] SPEAKER_01: Thanks.
[23:19] SPEAKER_01: Maybe we should just skip practice.
[23:22] SPEAKER_01: I'll just tell you guys Bible stories.
[23:24] SPEAKER_01: They seem to work better than anything else we've done.
[23:27] SPEAKER_00: Uh I think we still need the practice.
[23:29] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I guess that's true.
[23:31] SPEAKER_01: Alright, team.
[23:32] SPEAKER_01: Same time tomorrow.
[23:33] SPEAKER_01: Two weeks till the playoffs.
[23:39] SPEAKER_02: Thanks so much for listening.
[23:41] SPEAKER_02: The story of Daniel in the Lion's Den has captured hearts and minds for thousands of years.
[23:47] SPEAKER_02: And after listening today, I bet you know why.
[23:51] SPEAKER_02: Make sure to tune in tomorrow for our second weekly habit with Sister Josephine.
[23:56] SPEAKER_02: We'll see you then.

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