¹⁶ saying, ^(A)“What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a ^[a]notable miracle has been done through them is ^(B)evident^[b] to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

^18 (C)So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said to them, ^(D)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. ^20 (E)For we cannot but speak the things which ^(F)we have seen and heard.”

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, ^(A)“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, ^(B)and intend to bring this Man’s ^(C)blood on us!”

²⁹ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ^(D)“We ought to obey God rather than men. ^30 (E)The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by ^(F)hanging on a tree. ^31 (G)Him God has exalted to His right hand to be ^(H)Prince and ^(I)Savior, ^(J)to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And ^(K)we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit ^(L)whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

³³ When they heard this, they were ^(M)furious^[a] and plotted to kill them.

Israel Resists the Holy Spirit

⁵¹ “You ^(A)stiff-necked^[a] and ^(B)uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. ^52 (C)Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of ^(D)the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, ^53 (E)who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

Stephen the Martyr

^54 (F)When they heard these things they were ^[b]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, ^(G)being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the ^(H)glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, “Look! ^(I)I see the heavens opened and the ^(J)Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; ⁵⁸ and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And ^(K)the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, ^(L)receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ^(M)“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Honor Masters

6 Let as many ^(A)bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.

Be Loyal to the Faith

^13 (A)Hold fast ^(B)the pattern of ^(C)sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

⁹ holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Contend for the Faith

³ Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you ^(A)concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting ^(B)you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.