³ They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail^(A) until the next day.

¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.^(A)

⁴⁰ His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged.^(A) Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing^(B) because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.^{(C) 42} Day after day, in the temple courts^(D) and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news^(E) that Jesus is the Messiah.^(F)

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴ When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious^(A) and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,^(B) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.^{(C) 56} “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open^(D) and the Son of Man^(E) standing at the right hand of God.”

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^(F) and began to stone him.^(G) Meanwhile, the witnesses^(H) laid their coats^(I) at the feet of a young man named Saul.^(J)

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

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.

Philip in Samaria

⁴ Those who had been scattered^(F) preached the word wherever they went.^(G)

²³ After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,^{(A) 24} but Saul learned of their plan.^(B) Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. ²⁵ But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.^(C)

The Church in Antioch

¹⁹ Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed^(A) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,^(B) spreading the word only among Jews.

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

12 It was about this time that King Herod^(A) arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John,^(B) put to death with the sword.^{(C) 3} When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews,^(D) he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.^{(E) 4} After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.^(F)

⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying^(A) and heaped abuse^(B) on him.