Daily Bread

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)

8 And Saul^(T) approved of their killing him.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered^(U) throughout Judea and Samaria.^{(V) 2} Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³ But Saul^(W) began to destroy the church.^(X) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

⁴ Those who had been scattered^(Y) preached the word wherever they went.^{(Z) 5} Philip^(AA) went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. ⁶ When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. ⁷ For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many,^(AB) and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.^{(AC) 8} So there was great joy in that city.