Stephen Seized

⁸ Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs^(A) among the people. ⁹ Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene^(B) and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia^(C) and Asia^(D)—who began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.^(E)

¹¹ Then they secretly^(F) persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”^(G)

¹² So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.^{(H) 13} They produced false witnesses,^(I) who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place^(J) and against the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place^(K) and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”^(L)

¹⁵ All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin^(M) looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin

7 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

⁴⁴ “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law^(A) with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.^{(B) 45} After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them.^(C) It remained in the land until the time of David,^{(D) 46} who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.^{[a](E) 47} But it was Solomon who built a house for him.^(F)

⁴⁸ “However, the Most High^(G) does not live in houses made by human hands.^(H) As the prophet says:

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people!^(K) Your hearts^(L) and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?^(M) They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him^(N)— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels^(O) but have not obeyed it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴ When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious^(P) and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,^(Q) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.^{(R) 56} “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open^(S) and the Son of Man^(T) 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^(U) and began to stone him.^(V) Meanwhile, the witnesses^(W) laid their coats^(X) at the feet of a young man named Saul.^(Y)

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

8 And Saul^(AD) 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^(AE) throughout Judea and Samaria.^{(AF) 2} Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.