Book of Common Prayer

⁴⁴ Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed them, telling Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen. ⁴⁵ Which tabernacle our fathers received and brought with Joshua into the lands held by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the time of David. ⁴⁶ David found favour before God, and desired to make a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷ But Solomon built him a house.

⁴⁸ However, he that is highest of all does not dwell in temples made with hands, as says the prophet: ⁴⁹ Heaven is my seat, and earth is my footstool. What house will you build for me, says the Lord? Or what place is it that I should rest in? ⁵⁰ Has not my hand made all these things?

⁵¹ You stiff-necked people, and of uncircumcised hearts and ears! You have always resisted the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who told before of the coming of the Just One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered. ⁵³ And you also have received a law by the ordinance of angels, and have not kept it.

⁵⁴ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly with his eyes into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, Behold, I see the heavens open, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

⁵⁷ Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him all at once, ⁵⁸ and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen, who was calling on the Lord 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 thus spoken, he fell asleep.

Saul persecutes the Christians. The apostles are scattered abroad. Philip comes into Samaria. Simon Magus is baptized; he dissembles. Philip baptizes the chamberlain.

8 Saul had pleasure in Stephen’s death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the congregation that was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

⁵² Then Jesus said to the high priests and officers of the temple, and the elders who had approached him, Have you come out as if to a thief, with swords and clubs? ⁵³ When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth hands against me. But this is even your very hour, and the power of darkness.

⁵⁴ Then they took him and led him, and brought him to the home of the high priest. And Peter followed afar off.

⁵⁵ When they had kindled a fire in the centre courtyard of the palace and were sitting together, Peter also sat down among them. ⁵⁶ And one of the servant girls saw him as he sat by the fire, and took a good look at him and said, This man was also with him. ⁵⁷ Then he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. ⁵⁸ And after a little while another saw him and said, You are also one of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. ⁵⁹ And about the space of an hour afterwards, another affirmed, saying, Surely this fellow was with him, for he is from Galilee. ⁶⁰ And Peter said, Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.

And immediately, while he yet spoke, the cock crew. ⁶¹ And the Lord turned back and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the words of the Lord, how he said to him, Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. ⁶² And Peter went out and wept bitterly.