Saul Persecutes the Church

8 Now Saul was consenting to his death.

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and ^(A)they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and ^(B)made great lamentation over him.

³ As for Saul, ^(C)he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Christ Is Preached in Samaria

⁴ Therefore ^(D)those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

⁶ But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, ^(A)“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Believers Are Salt and Light^(A)

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; ^(B)but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

^14 (C)“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they ^(D)light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, ^(E)that they may see your good works and ^(F)glorify your Father in heaven.

¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise ^(A)your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (A)Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, ^(B)with fear and trembling, ^(C)in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ^6 (D)not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ^8 (E)knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

⁹ And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that ^[a]your own ^(F)Master also is in heaven, and ^(G)there is no partiality with Him.

^22 (A)Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ^23 (B)And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ^24 (C)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; ^(D)for^[a] you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and ^(E)there is no partiality.

Christian Graces; Final Greetings

4 Masters,^(F) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.