Saulwas in hearty agreementwith putting him to death.And on that daya greatpersecutionbeganagainstthe churchin Jerusalem,and they were allscatteredthroughoutthe regionsof Judeaand Samaria,exceptthe apostles.
So I sentmessengersto them, saying,"I am doinga greatworkand I cannotcomedown.Whyshould the workstopwhileI leaveit and comedownto you?"
Now whenDanielknewthat the documentwas signed,he enteredhis house(now in his roofchamberhe had windowsopentowardJerusalem);and he continued kneelingon his kneesthreetimesa day,prayingand givingthanksbeforehis God,as he had been doingpreviously.
Thenthe kingwas verypleasedand gaveordersfor Danielto be takenup out of the den.So Danielwas takenup out of the denand noinjurywhateverwas foundon him, becausehe had trustedin his God.
and the restseizedhis slavesand mistreatedthem and killedthem.
"Therefore,behold,I am sendingyou prophetsand wise menand scribes;someof them you will killand crucify,and someof them you will scourgein your synagogues,and persecutefrom cityto city,
"You are the saltof the earth;but ifthe salthas become tasteless,howcan it be made salty[again]? It is nolongergoodfor anything,exceptto be thrownout and trampled under footby men.
"Rememberthe wordthat I saidto you, 'A slaveis not greaterthan his master.'Ifthey persecutedMe, they will alsopersecuteyou; ifthey keptMy word,they will keepyoursalso.
"They will makeyou outcasts from the synagogue,but an houris comingfor everyonewho killsyou to thinkthat he is offeringserviceto God.
but you will receivepowerwhen the HolySpirithas comeupon you; and you shall be My witnessesbothin Jerusalem,and in allJudeaand Samaria,and evento the remotest partof the earth."
Nowthere were at Antioch,in the churchthat was [there], prophetsand teachers:Barnabas,and Simeonwho was calledNiger,and Luciusof Cyrene,and Manaenwho had been broughtup with Herodthe tetrarch,and Saul.
"For David,after he had servedthe purposeof Godin his owngeneration,fell asleep,and was laidamonghis fathersand underwentdecay;
praisingGodand havingfavorwith allthe people.And the Lordwas addingto their numberday by daythosewho were being saved.
And whenthe bloodof Your witnessStephenwas being shed,I alsowas standingby approving,and watchingout for the coatsof thosewho were slayinghim.'
"And thisis justwhatI didin Jerusalem;not onlydid I lockup manyof the saintsin prisons,having receivedauthorityfrom the chief priests,but alsowhen they were being put to deathI castmy voteagainstthem.
They laidhandson the apostlesand putthem in a publicjail.
"Go,standand speakto the peoplein the templethe wholemessageof thisLife."
But when they heardthis, they were cut to the quickand intendedto killthem.
They took his advice;and after callingthe apostlesin, they floggedthem and orderedthem not to speakin the nameof Jesus,and [then] releasedthem.
"Thisis the one who was in the congregationin the wildernesstogetherwith the angelwho was speakingto him on MountSinai,and [who was] with our fathers;and he receivedlivingoraclesto passon to you.
Nowwhen they heardthis,they were cutto the quick,and they [began] gnashingtheir teethat him.
When they had drivenhim out of the city,they [began] stoning[him]; and the witnesseslaid asidetheir robesat the feetof a young mannamedSaul.
Nowwhen the apostlesin Jerusalemheardthat Samariahad receivedthe wordof God,they sentthem Peterand John,
[Some] devoutmenburiedStephen,and madeloudlamentationoverhim.
Therefore,thosewho had been scatteredwent aboutpreachingthe word.
Philipwent downto the cityof Samariaand [began] proclaimingChristto them.
Sothe churchthroughoutallJudeaand Galileeand Samariaenjoyedpeace,being builtup; and goingon in the fearof the Lordand in the comfortof the HolySpirit,it continued to increase.
and although they knowthe ordinanceof God,that thosewho practicesuch thingsare worthyof death,they not onlydothe same,but alsogive hearty approvalto thosewho practicethem.
NowI wantyou to know,brethren,that my circumstanceshave turnedout for the greaterprogressof the gospel,
By faithhe leftEgypt,not fearingthe wrathof the king;for he endured,as seeingHim who is unseen.
