They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

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They will put you out of the synagogue;(A) in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.(B)

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22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

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22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders,(A) who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out(B) of the synagogue.(C)

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I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

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“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.

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For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

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For I can testify about them that they are zealous(A) for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.(B)

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I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

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“I am a Jew,(A) born in Tarsus(B) of Cilicia,(C) but brought up in this city. I studied under(D) Gamaliel(E) and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.(F) I was just as zealous(G) for God as any of you are today. I persecuted(H) the followers of this Way(I) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,(J)

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28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

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28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One(A) who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

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And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

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When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(A) the altar(B) the souls of those who had been slain(C) because of the word of God(D) and the testimony they had maintained.

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19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

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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)

21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ (D)

Paul the Roman Citizen

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him!(E) He’s not fit to live!”(F)

23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks(G) and flinging dust into the air,(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 22:20 Or witness

42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

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42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.(A) But because of the Pharisees(B) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;(C)

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22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

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22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you(A) and insult you(B)
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.(C)

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Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

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Hear the word of the Lord,
    you who tremble at his word:(A)
“Your own people who hate(B) you,
    and exclude you because of my name, have said,
‘Let the Lord be glorified,
    that we may see your joy!’
    Yet they will be put to shame.(C)

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13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

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13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage(A) of the world—right up to this moment.

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56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open(A) and the Son of Man(B) 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(C) and began to stone him.(D) Meanwhile, the witnesses(E) laid their coats(F) at the feet of a young man named Saul.(G)

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”(H) 60 Then he fell on his knees(I) and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”(J) When he had said this, he fell asleep.(K)

And Saul(L) 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(M) throughout Judea and Samaria.(N) Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul(O) began to destroy the church.(P) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.