¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,^(A) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus^(B) named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on^(C) him to restore his sight.”

¹³ The Lord says:

³¹ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before^(A) you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy^(B) for unjust gain.^(C)

⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling^(A) like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.^(B)

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

³⁸ As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, ³⁹ and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.^{(A) 40} They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

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.

²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!^{(A) 21} You have no part or share^(B) in this ministry, because your heart is not right^(C) before God.