⁹ Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene^(A) and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia^(B) and Asia^(C)—who began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.^(D)

¹¹ Then they secretly^(E) persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”^(F)

¹² So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.^{(G) 13} They produced false witnesses,^(H) who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place^(I) and against the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place^(J) and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”^(K)

¹⁵ All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin^(L) looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

⁵⁷ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city^(A) and began to stone him.^(B) Meanwhile, the witnesses^(C) laid their coats^(D) at the feet of a young man named Saul.^(E)

⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”^(F)

8 And Saul^(A) approved of their killing him.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered^(B) throughout Judea and Samaria.^{(C) 2} Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³ But Saul^(D) began to destroy the church.^(E) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.