9 “You must be careful. People will arrest you and take you to be judged. They will beat you in their synagogues. {\cf2\super [182]} You will be forced to stand before kings and governors. You will tell them about me. This will happen to you because you follow me.
9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
9 But look to yourselves; for they will turn you over to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake as a testimony to them.
9 But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them.
9 “Watch out for yourselves. People will hand you over to the councils. You will be beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me so that you can testify before them.
9 But see to yourselves. For they will hand you over to councils, and in the synagogues you will be beaten, and you shall stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony for them.
9 But look to yourselves. For they shall deliver you up to councils, and in the synagogues you shall be beaten, and you shall stand before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony unto them.
But I tell you, don’t be angry with another person. Every person is your brother. If you are angry with other people, you will be judged. And if you say bad things to another person, you will be judged by the Jewish council. And if you call another person a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Don’t tell any person about what I did for you. But go and show yourself to the priest. And offer a gift to God because you have been healed. Offer the gift that Moses commanded. {\cf2\super [22]} This will show people that you are healed.”
Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat. And there will be earthquakes in different places. These things are like the first pains when something new is born.
If any town refuses to accept you or refuses to listen to you, then leave that town. Shake their dust off your feet. {\cf2\super [65]} This will be a warning to them.”
If the people in the town will not welcome you, go outside the town and shake their dust off of your feet. {\cf2\super [159]} This will be a warning to them.”
Remember the lesson I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If people did wrong to me, then they will do wrong to you too. And if people obeyed my teaching, then they will obey yours too.
People will make you leave their synagogues. {\cf2\super [222]} Yes, a time is coming when people will think that killing you would be doing service for God.
He came to us and borrowed Paul’s belt. Then Agabus used the belt to tie his own hands and feet. Agabus said, “The Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [418]} tells me, ‘This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie the man who wears this belt. {\cf2\super [419]} Then they will give him to the non-Jewish people.’”
The Jewish leaders heard Stephen say these things. They became very angry. The Jewish leaders were so mad that they were grinding their teeth at Stephen.
God gave you the honor of believing in Christ. But that is not all. God also gave you the honor of suffering for Christ. Both these things bring glory to Christ.
I am John, and I am your brother \{in Christ\}. We are together in Jesus, and we share these things: suffering, the kingdom, and patient endurance. I was on the island of Patmos {\cf2\super [7]} because I was faithful to God’s message {\cf2\super [8]} and to the truth of Jesus.
Don’t be afraid of the things that will happen to you. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison. He will do this to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But be faithful, even if you have to die. If you continue faithful, then I will give you the crown of life.
I know where you live. You live where Satan (the devil) has his throne. But you are true to me. You did not refuse to tell about your faith in me even during the time of Antipas. Antipas was my faithful witness {\cf2\super [16]} who was killed in your city. Your city is where Satan lives.