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^(A) and began to stone him.^(B) Meanwhile, the witnesses^(C) laid their coats^(D) at the feet of a young man named Saul.^(E)

⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”^(F)

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

12 It was about this time that King Herod^(A) arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John,^(B) put to death with the sword.^{(C) 3} When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews,^(D) he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.^{(E) 4} After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.^(F)

¹⁴ Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.^{(A) 15} As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.^{(B) 16} Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.^(C)

The Apostles Persecuted

¹⁷ Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party^(D) of the Sadducees,^(E) were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.^(F)

23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin^(A) and said, “My brothers,^(B) I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience^(C) to this day.” ² At this the high priest Ananias^(D) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.^(E)