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^(O) 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^(P) throughout Judea and Samaria.^{(Q) 2} Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³ But Saul^(R) began to destroy the church.^(S) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Saul’s Conversion^(A)

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.^(B) He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,^(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,^(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.^{(E) 4} He fell to the ground and heard a voice^(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”^(G)

⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound^(H) but did not see anyone.^{(I) 8} Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.^(J) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.