But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen.

I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law.

Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.

By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.

Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: