Chapter 5, verse 41 - Chapter 7, verse 7
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.’
