⁴ I persecuted^(A) the followers of this Way^(B) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,^(C)

¹⁹ “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison^(A) and beat^(B) those who believe in you. ²⁰ And when the blood of your martyr^[a] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’^(C)

¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor^(A) and a violent man, I was shown mercy^(B) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.^{(C) 14} The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,^(D) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.^(E)

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying^(F) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners^(G)—of whom I am the worst.

⁹ “I too was convinced^(A) that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose^(B) the name of Jesus of Nazareth.^{(C) 10} And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people^(D) in prison,^(E) and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.^{(F) 11} Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,^(G) and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles^(A) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted^(B) the church of God.^(C)

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)

⁶ as for zeal,^(A) persecuting the church;^(B) as for righteousness based on the law,^(C) faultless.

¹⁴ However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors^(A) as a follower of the Way,^(B) which they call a sect.^(C) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,^(D)

The Riot in Ephesus

²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.^(A)