Chapter 5, verse 29 - Chapter 7, verse 10
29
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
30
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.
31
God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
32
We are His witnesses of these things
33
But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them.
34
But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.
35
He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.
36
For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody
37
After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
38
Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.
39
But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”
40
They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41
They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.
42
Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.
Chapter 6
1
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.
2
The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.
3
Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4
But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
5
These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch
6
whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7
The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8
Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
9
But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines,” and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.
10
They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11
Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
12
They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, and brought him in to the council,
13
and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
14
For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”
15
All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
Chapter 7
1
The high priest said, “Are these things so?”
2
He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
3
and said to him, ‘Get out of your land, and from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’
4
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land, where you are now living.
5
He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when he still had no child.
6
God spoke in this way: that his seed would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.
7
‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that will they come out, and serve me in this place.’
8
He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
9
“The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him,
10
and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
