¹¹ When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how or what^[a] you will answer or what you are to say,^(A)

¹⁷ Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues, ¹⁸ and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the gentiles.^{(A) 19} When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you at that time, ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.^(B)

⁵ The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,^{(A) 6} with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,^[a] and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.^{(B) 7} When they had made the prisoners^[b] stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

¹² “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.^{(A) 13} This will give you an opportunity to testify.^{(B) 14} So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance,^(C)

Persecution Foretold

⁹ “As for yourselves, beware, for they will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them.^{(A) 10} And the good news^[a] must first be proclaimed to all nations. ¹¹ When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak but the Holy Spirit.^(B)

Do Not Worry

²² He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

³⁴ For this reason I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town,

²⁷ When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,^[a] yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.”^{(A) 29} But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.^{[b](B) 30} The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.^{(C) 31} God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.^{(D) 32} And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”^(E)

⁹ Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit^[a] with which he spoke.^{(A) 11} Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”^{(B) 12} They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. ¹³ They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law,^{(C) 14} for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth^[b] will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.”^{(D) 15} And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.