Acts 7:35-8:4

Amplified Bible

³⁵ “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the very one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, with the [protecting and helping] hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush.^{(A) 36} This man led them out [of Egypt] after performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.^{(B) 37} This is the Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a Prophet ^[a]like me from your countrymen.’^{(C) 38} This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles [divine words that still live] to be handed down to you.^{(D) 39} Our fathers were unwilling to be subject to him [and refused to listen to him]. They rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.^{(E) 40} They said to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’^{(F) 41} In those days they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced and celebrated over the works of their hands.^{(G) 42} But God turned away [from them] and handed them over to serve the ^[b]host of heaven. As it is written and forever remains written in the book of the prophets, ‘It was not [really] to Me that you offered victims and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness, was it, O house of Israel?^{(H) 43} You also took along the tabernacle (portable temple) of Moloch and the star of the god Rompha, the images which you made to worship; and I will remove you beyond Babylon [carrying you away into exile].’^(I)

⁴⁴ “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as God directed Moses to make it according to the pattern which he had seen.^{(J) 45} Our fathers also brought it in [with them into the land] with Joshua when they dispossessed the ^[c]nations whom God drove out before our fathers, [and so it remained here] until the time of David,^{(K) 46} who found favor (grace, spiritual blessing) in the sight of God and asked that he might [be allowed to] find a dwelling place for the ^[d]God of Jacob.^{(L) 47} But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.^{(M) 48} However, the Most High [the One infinitely exalted above humanity] does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet [Isaiah] says,^(N)

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did.^{(P) 52} Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; ⁵³ you who received the law as ordained and delivered to you by angels, and yet you did not obey it!”

Stephen Put to Death

⁵⁴ Now when ^[e]they heard this [accusation and understood its implication], they were cut to the heart, and they began grinding their teeth [in rage] at him. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit and led by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory [the great splendor and majesty] of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; ⁵⁶ and he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened up [in welcome] and ^[f]the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” ⁵⁷ But they shouted with loud voices, and covered their ears and together rushed at him [considering him guilty of blasphemy]. ⁵⁸ Then they drove him out of the city and began stoning him; and the witnesses placed their outer robes at the feet of a young man named ^[g]Saul.^{(Q) 59} They continued stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!” ⁶⁰ Then falling on his knees [in worship], he cried out loudly, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them [do not charge them]!” When he had said this, he fell asleep [in death].

Saul Persecutes the Church

8 Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death.

And on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. ² Some devout men buried Stephen, and ^[h]mourned greatly over him [expressing a personal sense of loss]. ³ But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

⁴ Now those [believers] who had been scattered went from place to place preaching the word [the good news of salvation through Christ].