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?”

² To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers,^(N) listen to me! The God of glory^(O) appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran.^{(P) 3} ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’^[a](Q)

⁴ “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.^{(R) 5} He gave him no inheritance here,^(S) not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land,^(T) even though at that time Abraham had no child.

⁴⁷ But it was Solomon who built a house for him.^(A)

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

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people!^(F) Your hearts^(G) 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?^(H) They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him^(I)— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels^(J) but have not obeyed it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

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

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