Psalm 31^[a](A)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Jeremiah Threatened With Death

26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim^(A) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: ² “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard^(B) of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord.^(C) Tell^(D) them everything I command you; do not omit^(E) a word. ³ Perhaps they will listen and each will turn^(F) from their evil ways. Then I will relent^(G) and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. ⁴ Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen^(H) to me and follow my law,^(I) which I have set before you, ⁵ and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened^(J)), ⁶ then I will make this house like Shiloh^(K) and this city a curse^[a](L) among all the nations of the earth.’”

⁷ The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. ⁸ But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded^(M) him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized^(N) him and said, “You must die!^{(O) 9} Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?”^(P) And all the people crowded^(Q) around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

¹² Then Jeremiah said to all the officials^(A) and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy^(B) against this house and this city all the things you have heard.^{(C) 13} Now reform^(D) your ways and your actions and obey^(E) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent^(F) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. ¹⁴ As for me, I am in your hands;^(G) do with me whatever you think is good and right. ¹⁵ Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood^(H) on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words^(I) in your hearing.”

Stephen Seized

⁸ Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs^(A) among the people. ⁹ Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene^(B) and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia^(C) and Asia^(D)—who began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.^(E)

¹¹ Then they secretly^(F) persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”^(G)

¹² So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.^{(H) 13} They produced false witnesses,^(I) who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place^(J) and against the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place^(K) and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”^(L)

¹⁵ All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin^(M) looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin

7 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

² To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers,^(N) listen to me! The God of glory^(O) appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran.^(P)

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people!^(A) Your hearts^(B) and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?^(C) They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him^(D)— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels^(E) but have not obeyed it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴ When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious^(F) and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,^(G) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.^{(H) 56} “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open^(I) and the Son of Man^(J) 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^(K) and began to stone him.^(L) Meanwhile, the witnesses^(M) laid their coats^(N) at the feet of a young man named Saul.^(O)

⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”^{(P) 60} Then he fell on his knees^(Q) and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”^(R) When he had said this, he fell asleep.^(S)

³⁴ Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify;^(A) others you will flog in your synagogues^(B) and pursue from town to town.^{(C) 35} And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel^(D) to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah,^(E) whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.^{(F) 36} Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.^(G)

³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,^(H) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,^(I) and you were not willing. ³⁸ Look, your house is left to you desolate.^{(J) 39} For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’^[a]”^(K)