What does Daniel 6:10 mean?
Darius's irrevocable law carried the death sentence for anyone who violated it (Daniel 6:6–9). Those who prayed to anyone other than Darius, himself, would be subject to death at the teeth and claws of lions. While Darius trusted and honored Daniel (Daniel 6:1–3), he didn't realize that this law was a malicious plot (Daniel 6:4–5). Whether or not Daniel recognized the law as a personal attack, his response was exactly what his enemies anticipated. He knew what the law said, and what it meant, but he chose to love God more than his own life (Acts 5:29).Daniel was determined to honor the God of Israel, just as he had always done (Daniel 1:8, 17, 20). He continued his habit of praying and giving thanks to his God. He repeated his practice praying openly, at the window, facing Jerusalem, three times a day. Scripture doesn't indicate what Daniel thought would happen. Most likely, he had the same mindset as did his three friends. They were threatened with death, but resolved to obey God, whether He rescued them or not (Daniel 3:16–18).
Such devotion and consistency were evident in the lives of the apostles Peter and John. Annoyed that these apostles were preaching about Jesus, local religious leaders had them arrested (Acts 4:1–3). The next day, the Jewish council interrogated the two apostles. Peter boldly proclaimed Christ crucified and risen. Then the council charged them not to speak or teach again in Jesus' name (Acts 4:18). Peter and John answered: "We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).