²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, ^(A)“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, ^(B)and intend to bring this Man’s ^(C)blood on us!”

²⁹ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ^(D)“We ought to obey God rather than men. ^30 (E)The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by ^(F)hanging on a tree. ^31 (G)Him God has exalted to His right hand to be ^(H)Prince and ^(I)Savior, ^(J)to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And ^(K)we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit ^(L)whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

³³ When they heard this, they were ^(M)furious^[a] and plotted to kill them.

Israel Resists the Holy Spirit

⁵¹ “You ^(A)stiff-necked^[a] and ^(B)uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. ^52 (C)Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of ^(D)the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, ^53 (E)who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

Stephen the Martyr

^54 (F)When they heard these things they were ^[b]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.