¹⁵ Now Jehoiada was old and full of years, and he died at the age of a hundred and thirty. ¹⁶ He was buried with the kings in the City of David, because of the good he had done in Israel for God and his temple.

The Wickedness of Joash

¹⁷ After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. ¹⁸ They abandoned^(A) the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols.^(B) Because of their guilt, God’s anger^(C) came on Judah and Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Although the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.^(D)

²⁰ Then the Spirit^(E) of God came on Zechariah^(F) son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper.^(G) Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken^(H) you.’”

²¹ But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned^(I) him to death^(J) in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.^{(K) 22} King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”^(L)

⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”^{(A) 60} Then he fell on his knees^(B) and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”^(C) When he had said this, he fell asleep.^(D)

8 And Saul^(E) 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^(F) throughout Judea and Samaria.^{(G) 2} Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³ But Saul^(H) began to destroy the church.^(I) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

⁴ Those who had been scattered^(J) preached the word wherever they went.^{(K) 5} Philip^(L) went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. ⁶ When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. ⁷ For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many,^(M) and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.^{(N) 8} So there was great joy in that city.