Acts

Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.