Stephen Seized

⁸ Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs^(A) among the people. ⁹ Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene^(B) and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia^(C) and Asia^(D)—who began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.^(E)

¹¹ Then they secretly^(F) persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”^(G)

¹² So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.^{(H) 13} They produced false witnesses,^(I) who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place^(J) and against the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place^(K) and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”^(L)

¹⁵ All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin^(M) looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

The Church in Antioch

¹⁹ Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed^(A) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,^(B) spreading the word only among Jews.

²⁰ And when the blood of your martyr^[a] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’^(A)