Stephen Is Seized

And Stephen, full of grace and (A)power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But (B)they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then (C)they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they (D)set up false (E)witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against (F)this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth (G)will destroy this place and will (H)change (I)the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face (J)was like the face of an angel.

Stephen's Speech

And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And Stephen said:

(K)“Brothers and fathers, hear me. (L)The God (M)of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, (N)before he lived in Haran,

51 (A)“You stiff-necked people, (B)uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. (C)As your fathers did, so do you. 52 (D)Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of (E)the Righteous One, (F)whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law (G)as delivered by angels and (H)did not keep it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

54 Now when they heard these things (I)they were enraged, and they (J)ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, (K)full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw (L)the glory of God, and Jesus standing (M)at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see (N)the heavens opened, and (O)the Son of Man standing (P)at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together[a] at him. 58 Then (Q)they cast him out of the city and (R)stoned him. And (S)the witnesses laid down their garments (T)at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, (U)he called out, “Lord Jesus, (V)receive my spirit.” 60 And (W)falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, (X)“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, (Y)he fell asleep.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 7:57 Or rushed with one mind

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