Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴ What Stephen said was a blow right to the heart. When they heard it, they gnashed their teeth against him. ⁵⁵ He, however, was filled with the holy spirit, and looked steadily up into heaven. There he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.

⁵⁶ “Look!” he said. “I can see heaven opened, and the son of man standing at God’s right hand!”

⁵⁷ But they yelled at him at the tops of their voices, blocked their ears and made a concerted dash at him. ⁵⁸ They bundled him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

⁵⁹ So they stoned Stephen.

“Lord Jesus,” he cried out, “receive my spirit.”

⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and shouted at the top of his voice, “Lord, don’t let this sin stand against them.”

Once he had said this, he fell asleep.

8 Now Saul was giving his consent to Stephen’s death.

That very day a great persecution was started against the church in Jerusalem. Everyone except the apostles was scattered through the lands of Judaea and Samaria.