司提凡的申辯

大祭司問:「這是真的嗎?」 司提凡說:「各位父老兄弟,請聽我說!我們的祖先亞伯拉罕還未遷到哈蘭之前,住在美索不達米亞,榮耀的上帝向他顯現,說, 『你要離開家鄉和親族,到我要指示你的地方去。』 亞伯拉罕就離開迦勒底人的地方,在哈蘭住了下來。他父親過世以後,上帝又領他到你們現在居住的這個地方。 當時在這片土地上,上帝沒有給他任何產業,他甚至連立足之地也沒有。但上帝應許要把這片土地賜給他和他的後裔作產業,儘管那時候亞伯拉罕還沒有兒子。 上帝又說,『你的子孫必流落異鄉,受奴役、被虐待四百年。 但我必懲罰奴役他們的國家,之後你的子孫要離開那裡,在這片土地上事奉我。』 上帝又賜下割禮作為祂與亞伯拉罕立約的憑據。亞伯拉罕在以撒出生後的第八天為他行割禮。照樣,以撒為他的兒子雅各行了割禮,雅各也為他的兒子——以色列十二位先祖行了割禮。[a]

「先祖們嫉妒自己的弟弟約瑟,把他賣到了埃及。但上帝一直與他同在, 10 救他脫離一切危難,又賜他過人的智慧,使他在埃及法老面前得到恩寵,官拜宰相治理全國,並管理王室。 11 後來,埃及和迦南全境遭遇饑荒,災情嚴重,我們的先祖們斷了糧。 12 雅各聽說埃及有糧,就派先祖們去那裡買糧,那是我們的先祖初次去埃及。 13 他們第二次去的時候,約瑟才和弟兄們相認,並且領他們拜見埃及王。 14 後來,約瑟派人去把父親雅各和全族七十五人都接到埃及。 15 從此以後,雅各和其他先祖們便定居埃及,直到去世。 16 後來他們的遺體被帶回示劍,安葬在亞伯拉罕買自哈抹子孫的墓地裡。

17 「上帝對亞伯拉罕所應許的日子快到的時侯,以色列人在埃及的人口已大大增加。 18 後來埃及有一位不認識約瑟的新王登基。 19 他用毒計苦害我們的同胞,虐待我們的祖先,強令他們把嬰孩拋棄,不讓嬰孩存活。 20 那時,摩西出生了,他長得俊美非凡。他的父母在家裡偷偷地撫養了他三個月, 21 最後不得已才丟棄他。法老的女兒救了他,收為養子。

22 「摩西學會了埃及人一切的學問,成為一個說話辦事很有能力的人。 23 他四十歲那年決定去探望自己的同胞以色列人。 24 他到了他們那裡,看見一個埃及人正在欺負以色列人,就打抱不平,殺了那個埃及人。 25 摩西以為同胞們會明白上帝要藉著他的手拯救他們,可是他們並不明白。 26 第二天,他看見兩個以色列人在打架,就上前勸解說,『大家都是同胞,為什麼互相毆打呢?』 27 不料那個欺負人的推開摩西說,『誰立你作我們的首領和審判官? 28 難道你要殺我,像昨天殺那個埃及人一樣嗎?』 29 摩西聽了這話,就逃到米甸寄居,在那裡成家,生了兩個兒子。

30 「過了四十年,在西奈山的曠野,上帝的天使在荊棘火焰中向摩西顯現。 31 摩西見狀很驚奇,正要上前看個究竟,就聽見主說, 32 『我是你祖先的上帝,是亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的上帝。』摩西戰戰兢兢,不敢觀看。 33 主又說,『脫下你腳上的鞋子,因為你所站的地方是聖地。 34 我已清楚看見我子民在埃及所受的苦難,也聽見了他們的哀歎,我下來要救他們。你來,我要派你回埃及。』

35 「百姓曾拒絕這位摩西,說,『誰立你作我們的首領和審判官?』上帝卻藉著在荊棘中顯現的天使親自差遣他,立他為首領和拯救者。 36 摩西帶領以色列人出埃及,過紅海,越曠野,四十年間行了許多神蹟奇事。 37 就是這位摩西曾對以色列人說,『上帝要在你們中間興起一位像我一樣的先知。』 38 這位摩西曾在曠野與以色列的會眾——我們的祖先在一起,又在西奈山上與向他傳信息的天使在一起,並且領受了生命之道傳給我們。

39 「可是我們的祖先不聽從他,甚至棄絕他,心裡對埃及戀戀不捨。 40 他們請求亞倫說,『為我們造一些神像來帶領我們吧!領我們離開埃及的那個摩西不知怎樣了。』 41 於是,他們造了一個牛犢像,向它獻祭,並為自己所做的事沾沾自喜。 42 因此,上帝轉臉不顧他們,任由他們祭拜日月星辰,正如先知書的記載,

『以色列家啊,
在曠野的四十年間,
你們向我獻過祭物和供品嗎?
43 你們抬著為自己所造的神像,
就是摩洛的帳篷和理番神明的星,
祭拜它們,
所以我要把你們趕到比巴比倫還遠的地方去。』

44 「我們的祖先在曠野的時候,一直帶著安放約櫃的聖幕,這聖幕是上帝吩咐摩西照他所看見的樣式造的。 45 後來我們的祖先承受了聖幕。上帝從我們祖先面前趕走外族人,使他們得到了應許之地。他們同約書亞把聖幕帶到那裡,一直到大衛的時代。 46 大衛蒙上帝悅納,祈求為雅各的上帝建造一座聖殿。 47 結果是他的兒子所羅門為上帝建成了聖殿。

48 「其實至高的上帝並不住人造的殿,祂曾藉著先知說, 49 『天是我的寶座,地是我的腳凳,你們要為我造怎樣的殿宇?哪裡可作我的安歇之處? 50 這一切不都是我親手創造的嗎?』

51 「你們這些頑固不化、耳不聽心不悔的人[b],經常抗拒聖靈,所作所為和你們的祖先如出一轍! 52 哪一位先知沒有被你們祖先迫害?那些預言義者——彌賽亞要來的人也被你們的祖先殺害。如今你們竟出賣了那位公義者,殺害了祂! 53 你們接受了上帝藉天使所傳的律法,竟不遵守!」

司提凡殉道

54 眾人聽了這番話,怒火中燒,咬牙切齒。 55 司提凡卻被聖靈充滿,定睛望天,看見上帝的榮耀和站在上帝右邊的耶穌。 56 司提凡說:「看啊!我看見天開了,人子站在上帝的右邊。」

57 眾人大喊大叫,捂著耳朵,蜂擁而上, 58 把司提凡拉到城外,用石頭打他。指控他的人把他們的衣服交給一個名叫掃羅的青年看管。 59 在亂石擊打之下,司提凡呼求說:「主耶穌啊,接收我的靈魂吧!」然後跪下高聲說: 60 「主啊,不要追究他們的罪!」說完後,就斷氣了。

Footnotes

  1. 7·8 第八節後半部分或譯「以撒生雅各,雅各生以色列十二位先祖。」
  2. 7·51 耳不聽心不悔的人」希臘文是「心與耳未受割禮的人」。

1 Stephen pleading his cause, showeth that God chose the Fathers,  20 before Moses was born, 42 and before the Temple was built: 44 And that all outward ceremonies were ordained according to the heavenly Pattern. 54 The Jews gnashing their teeth, 59 stone him.

Then [a]said the chief Priest, Are these things so?

[b]And he said, Ye men, brethren, and Fathers, hearken, (A)That God of [c]glory appeared unto our father Abraham, while he was in [d]Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

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

Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Haran. And after that his father was dead, God brought him from thence into this land, wherein ye now dwell,

And he gave him none inheritance in it, [e]no not the breadth of a foot: yet he [f]promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

But God spake thus, that his (B)seed should be a sojourner in a strange land: and that they should keep it in bondage, and entreat it evil [g]four hundred years.

But the nation to whom they shall be in bondage, will I judge, saith God: and after that, they shall come forth and serve me in this place.

(C)He gave him also the covenant of circumcision: and to Abraham begat(D)Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day: and Isaac begat (E)Jacob, and Jacob the twelve (F)Patriarchs.

[h]And the Patriarchs moved with envy, sold (G)Joseph into Egypt: but God was [i]with him,

10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and (H)gave him [j]favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt, and over his whole house.

11 ¶ Then came there a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, that our fathers found no sustenance.

12 But when (I)Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent our fathers first:

13 (J)And at the second time Joseph was known of his brethren, and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

14 Then sent Joseph and caused his father to be brought, and all his kindred, even threescore and fifteen souls.

15 So (K)Jacob went down into Egypt, and he (L)died, and our fathers,

16 And were [k]removed into Shechem, and were put in the sepulcher, that Abraham had bought (M)for money of the sons of Hamor, son of Shechem.

17 But when the time of the promise drew near, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people (N)grew and multiplied in Egypt,

18 Till another King arose, which knew not Joseph.

19 The same [l]dealt subtly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, and made them to cast out their young children, that they should not remain alive.

20 (O)The same time was Moses born and was [m]acceptable unto God: which was nourished up in his father’s house three months.

21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

23 Now when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

24 (P)And when he saw one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged his quarrel that had the harm done to him, and smote the Egyptian.

25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood, that God by his hand should give them deliverance: but they understood it not.

26 (Q)And the next day, he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren: why do ye wrong one to another?

27 But he that did his neighbor wrong, thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a prince, and a judge over us?

28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?

29 Then fled Moses at that saying, and was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the (R)wilderness of mount Sinai, an [n]Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire, in a bush.

31 And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to consider it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying,

32 I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold it.

33 Then the Lord said to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest, is holy ground.

34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people, which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them: and now come, and I will send thee into Egypt.

35 This Moses whom they forsook, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge? the same God sent for a prince, and a deliverer by the [o]hand of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush.

36 He (S)brought them out, doing wonders, and miracles in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness (T)forty years.

37 [p]This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, (U)A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, even of your brethren, like unto me: him shall ye hear.

38 (V)This is he that was in the Congregation, in the wilderness with the Angel, which spake to him in mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received the lively oracles to give unto us.

39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but refused, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

40 Saying unto Aaron, (W)Make us gods that may go before us: for we know not what is become of this Moses that brought us out of the land of Egypt.

41 And they made a [q]calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

42 Then God turned himself away, and [r]gave them up to serve the [s]host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets, (X)O house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

43 And ye [t]took up the Tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures, which ye made to worship them: therefore I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

44 [u]Our fathers had the Tabernacle of [v]witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto (Y)Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

45 (Z)Which tabernacle also our fathers [w]received, and brought in with Jesus into the [x]possession of the Gentiles, which God drove out [y]before our fathers, unto the days of David:

46 (AA)Who found favor before God, and desired that he might find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

47 (AB)[z]But Solomon built him an house.

48 Howbeit the most High (AC)dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the Prophet,

49 (AD)Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build for me, saith the Lord? or what place is it that I should rest in?

50 Hath not mine hand made all these things?

51 (AE)[aa]Ye stiff-necked and of [ab]uncircumcised hearts and ears, ye have always resisted the holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you.

52 Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them, which showed before of the coming of that Just, of whom ye are now the betrayers and murderers,

53 (AF)Which have received the law by the [ac]ordinance of Angels, and have not kept it.

54 [ad]But when they heard these things, their hearts brast for anger, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

55 [ae]But he being full of the holy Ghost, looked steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus [af]standing at the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens open, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.

57 [ag]Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and [ah]ran upon him violently all at once,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the [ai]witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, named Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, who called on God, and said, Lord Jesus receive my spirit.

60 [aj]And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, [ak]lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had thus spoken, he [al]slept.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 7:1 Stephen is admitted to plead his cause, but to this end and purpose, that under a cloak, and color of Law, he might be condemned.
  2. Acts 7:2 Stephen witnesseth unto the Jews, that he acknowledgeth the true fathers, and the only true God: and showeth moreover, that they are more ancient than the Temple, with all that service appointed by the Law, and therefore they ought to lay another foundation of true religion, that is to say, the free covenant that God made with the fathers.
  3. Acts 7:2 That mighty God full of glory and majesty.
  4. Acts 7:2 When he saith afterward, verse 4, that Abraham came out of Chaldea, it is evident that Mesopotamia contained Chaldea which was near unto it, and bordering upon it, and so writeth Plinius, book 6, chap. 27.
  5. Acts 7:5 Not so much ground as to set his foot upon.
  6. Acts 7:5 The promise of the possession was certain and belonged to Abraham, though his posterity enjoyed it a great while after his death: and this is the figure Synecdoche.
  7. Acts 7:6 There are reckoned four hundred years, from the beginning of Abraham’s progeny, which was at the birth of Isaac: and four hundred and thirty years which are spoken of by Paul, Gal. 3:17, from the time that Abraham and his father departed together out of Ur of the Chaldeans.
  8. Acts 7:9 Stephen reckoneth up diligently the horrible mischiefs of some of the Fathers, to teach the Jews that they ought not rashly to rest in the authority or examples of the Fathers.
  9. Acts 7:9 By this kind of speech, is meant the peculiar favor that God showeth men: for he seemeth to be away from them, whom he helpeth not, and on the other side, he is with them whom he delivereth out of whatsoever great troubles.
  10. Acts 7:10 Gave him favor in Pharaoh’s sight for his wisdom.
  11. Acts 7:16 The Patriarchs the sons of Jacob, though there be mention made of no more than Joseph, Josh. 24:32.
  12. Acts 7:19 He devised a subtle invention against our stock, in that he commanded all the males to be cast out.
  13. Acts 7:20 That child was born through God’s merciful goodness and favor, to be of a goodly and fair countenance.
  14. Acts 7:30 Now he calleth the Son of God an Angel, for he is the Angel of great counsel, and therefore, straightway after he showeth him, saying to Moses, I am that God of thy Fathers, etc.
  15. Acts 7:35 By the power.
  16. Acts 7:37 He acknowledgeth Moses for the lawgiver, but so that he proveth by his own witness, that the Law had respect to a more perfect thing, that is to say, to the prophetic office which tended to Christ, the head of all Prophets.
  17. Acts 7:41 This was the superstition of the Egyptians’ idolatry: for they worshipped Apis a strange and marvelous calf, and made goodly images of Kine, Herodias, lib. 2.
  18. Acts 7:42 Being destitute and void of his Spirit, he gave them up to Satan, and wicked lusts to worship stars.
  19. Acts 7:42 By the host of heaven, here he meaneth not the Angels, but the moon and sun and other stars.
  20. Acts 7:43 You took it upon your shoulders and carried it.
  21. Acts 7:44 Moses indeed erected a Tabernacle, but that was to call them back to that form which he had seen in the mountain.
  22. Acts 7:44 That is, of the covenant.
  23. Acts 7:45 Delivered from hand to hand.
  24. Acts 7:45 By the figure Metonymy, for the countries which the Gentiles possessed.
  25. Acts 7:45 God drove them out, that they should yield up the possession of those countries to our fathers, when they entered into the land.
  26. Acts 7:47 Solomon built a Temple, according to God’s commandment, but not with any such condition, that the Majesty of God should be enclosed therein.
  27. Acts 7:51 Stephen moved with the zeal of God, at length judgeth his own judges.
  28. Acts 7:51 They are of uncircumcised hearts, which lie drowned still in the sins of nature, and stick fast in them: for otherwise all the Jews were circumcised as touching the flesh, and therefore there were two kinds of circumcision, Rom. 2:28.
  29. Acts 7:53 By the ministry of Angels.
  30. Acts 7:54 The more Satan is pressed, the more he brasteth out into an open rage.
  31. Acts 7:55 The nearer that the Martyrs approach to death, the nearer they beholding Christ, do rise up even into heaven.
  32. Acts 7:55 Ready to confirm him in the confession of the truth, and to receive him to him.
  33. Acts 7:57 The zeal of hypocrites and superstitious people, breaketh out at length into most open madness.
  34. Acts 7:57 This was done in a rage and fury: for at that time the Jews could put no man to death by law, as they confess before Pilate, saying that it was not lawful for them to put any man to death, and therefore it is reported by Josephus, lib. 20, that Ananus a Sadducee slew James the brother of the Lord, and for so doing, was accused before Albinus the President of the country.
  35. Acts 7:58 It was appointed by the Law, that the witnesses should cast the first stones, Deut. 17:7.
  36. Acts 7:60 Faith and charity never forsake the true servants of God, even to the last breath.
  37. Acts 7:60 The word which he useth here noteth out such a kind of imputing or laying to one’s charge, as remaineth firm, and steady forever, never to be remitted.
  38. Acts 7:60 See 1 Thess. 4:13.

Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

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,

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

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 he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.

And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,

16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.

19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:

21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,

32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

47 But Solomon built him an house.

48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

50 Hath not my hand made all these things?

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.