Passage Viewer

Final Invective

But you are a stubborn people. You have hardened your hearts and closed your ears. You have always resisted the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did.

Was there a prophet whom your ancestors did not persecute? They killed those who announced the coming of the Just One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered;

you who received the law through the angels but did not keep it.

Death of Stephen

When they heard this reproach, they became furious and gnashed their teeth at Stephen.

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus at God’s right hand;

so he declared:

“I see the heavens open and the Son of Man at the right hand of God.”

But they shouted, covered their ears with their hands, and rushed at him.

They took him out of the city and stoned him.

The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, saying:

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Then he knelt down and said loudly:

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

After saying this, he died.

Saul was there, approving the murder.

Persecution and Preaching in Samaria

This marked the beginning of intense persecution against the Church in Jerusalem. Everyone except the apostles was scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.