Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Court » Accused spoke in his own defense
But Peter and the apostles said in reply. "We must obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew by hanging him on a tree. "Him God has exalted at his right hand as Prince and Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. read more.
"And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
"And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
So they summoned them, and ordered them not to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John said in reply. "Do you decide whether in the sight of God it is right to obey you rather than God; but for our part, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
When the chief priests continued making many accusations against him, Pilate repeatedly questioned him. "Do you make no answer?" he said, "See, how many accusations they are making." But Jesus no longer made any answer, at which Pilate wondered.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them. "Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being examined today concerning a benefit conferred upon a cripple, as to how has this man been cured, "be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand before you strong and well. read more.
"For he is the Stone, cast aside by you builders, which has become the head stone of the corner. "There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, in which we must be saved."
"For he is the Stone, cast aside by you builders, which has become the head stone of the corner. "There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, in which we must be saved."
And the high priest said, "Are these things so?" Stephen answered. "Listen, brothers and fathers. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, "Leave your country and your kindred, and come to whatever land I will show you. read more.
"So he left Chaldea and settled in Haran, and from there, after his father's death, God moved him to this land which you inhabit. "But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground; yet he promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity??e at that time being childless. "What God said was this. "'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. "'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them I will judge, said God, 'and after ward they shall come out, and they shall worship me in this place. "Then he gave him a covenant of circumcision, and under this covenant he became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs. "The patriarchs out of jealousy sold Joseph into Egypt. "But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household. "Then there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, so that our ancestors could not find food. "But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent our ancestors there on their first visit. "On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage. "Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his family, numbering seventy-five souls, to come to him; "and Jacob went down into Egypt. "There he died, and our ancestors also, and they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. "but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham, the people multiplied and increased in Egypt; "until there arose a king who knew not Joseph. "He dealt craftily with our race, and oppressed our forefathers, by making them expose their infants so that they should not live. "In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his father's house. "When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son. "So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works. "And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel; "and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought redress for the one overpowered, by striking down the Egyptian. "(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.) "Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?' "But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us? "'Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons. "But at the end of forty years there appeared to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush. "When Moses saw it he was astonished at the sight. But when he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord said, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "And Moses trembled and dared not gaze. "And the Lord said: "Take off your sandals, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. "Truly I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and am come down to rescue them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt. "This Moses whom they refused when they said, Who made you to be a ruler and a judge? that same Moses we find God sending as a ruler and a redeemer by the hand in the bush. "This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years. "It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me. "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us. "To him our ancestors would not be obedient, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt. "Said they to Aaron. "Make Gods for us who shall march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him. "And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to this idol, and began to rejoice over what they had made with their hands. "So God turned from them, and gave them up to the worship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the book of the Prophets. "Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, O House of Israel? No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up??he images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon. "In the wilderness our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony built, as he appointed who told Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen. "That tabernacle was brought in by our ancestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua entered on the possession of the nations whom God thrust out before them, until the days of David. "David obtained favor with God, and asked permission to find a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob. "But it was Solomon who built him a house. "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as said the prophet. "The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet; What kind of house will you build for me? saith the Lord. Or what resting-place shall I have? Did not my hand make this universe? "Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you. "Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become??53 "you who received the law, given through angels, and obeyed it not." As they heard these words they became furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look, I see heaven open," he said, "And the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."
"So he left Chaldea and settled in Haran, and from there, after his father's death, God moved him to this land which you inhabit. "But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground; yet he promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity??e at that time being childless. "What God said was this. "'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. "'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them I will judge, said God, 'and after ward they shall come out, and they shall worship me in this place. "Then he gave him a covenant of circumcision, and under this covenant he became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs. "The patriarchs out of jealousy sold Joseph into Egypt. "But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household. "Then there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, so that our ancestors could not find food. "But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent our ancestors there on their first visit. "On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage. "Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his family, numbering seventy-five souls, to come to him; "and Jacob went down into Egypt. "There he died, and our ancestors also, and they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. "but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham, the people multiplied and increased in Egypt; "until there arose a king who knew not Joseph. "He dealt craftily with our race, and oppressed our forefathers, by making them expose their infants so that they should not live. "In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his father's house. "When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son. "So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works. "And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel; "and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought redress for the one overpowered, by striking down the Egyptian. "(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.) "Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?' "But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us? "'Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons. "But at the end of forty years there appeared to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush. "When Moses saw it he was astonished at the sight. But when he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord said, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "And Moses trembled and dared not gaze. "And the Lord said: "Take off your sandals, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. "Truly I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and am come down to rescue them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt. "This Moses whom they refused when they said, Who made you to be a ruler and a judge? that same Moses we find God sending as a ruler and a redeemer by the hand in the bush. "This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years. "It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me. "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us. "To him our ancestors would not be obedient, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt. "Said they to Aaron. "Make Gods for us who shall march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him. "And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to this idol, and began to rejoice over what they had made with their hands. "So God turned from them, and gave them up to the worship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the book of the Prophets. "Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, O House of Israel? No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up??he images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon. "In the wilderness our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony built, as he appointed who told Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen. "That tabernacle was brought in by our ancestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua entered on the possession of the nations whom God thrust out before them, until the days of David. "David obtained favor with God, and asked permission to find a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob. "But it was Solomon who built him a house. "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as said the prophet. "The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet; What kind of house will you build for me? saith the Lord. Or what resting-place shall I have? Did not my hand make this universe? "Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you. "Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become??53 "you who received the law, given through angels, and obeyed it not." As they heard these words they became furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look, I see heaven open," he said, "And the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."
With a stedfast gaze at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived with a good conscience before God to this day." Then the High Priest Ananias ordered those who stood near Paul to strike him on the mouth. "You whited sepulcher," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you! You are sitting there to judge me according to the law, are you? And do you command me to be struck, contrary to the Law?" read more.
"Do you rail at God's high priest?" said the bystanders. "Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest," exclaimed Paul, "for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of my people." Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisee, he cried out in the Sanhedrin. "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!" When he said this, there arose a quarrel between the Pharisees and Sadducees; the meeting was divided.
"Do you rail at God's high priest?" said the bystanders. "Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest," exclaimed Paul, "for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of my people." Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisee, he cried out in the Sanhedrin. "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!" When he said this, there arose a quarrel between the Pharisees and Sadducees; the meeting was divided.
Government » Mosaic » Constitutes, with priests and scribes, a court for the trial of both civil and ecclesiastical causes
and he began to explain to them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests, and the Scribes, and be put to death, and after two days rise again.
And when the morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, how they might put him to death. After they had bound him, they led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the Roman Governor.
When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"
As soon as it was down, after the high priests had conferred with the elders and the whole Sanhedrin, they bound Jesus, and took him away, and handed him over to Pilate.
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the court of the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas, and they plotted together to get Jesus into their power by a trick, and to put him to death; but said they, "Not during the feast, for fear of causing a riot among the people."
Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Now Peter was following him, afar off, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and when he got in, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end. And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed; read more.
but they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. However, at last two came forward who said, "This fellow declared, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and build it in three days.'" Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus. "Do you make no answer? What is it that these are testifying against you?" But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" "I am He," Jesus answered; "yet I tell you that from this time on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy! "What is your verdict?" "He ought to die," they answered. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some struck him with the palms of their hands, and cried. "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it who struck you?"
but they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. However, at last two came forward who said, "This fellow declared, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and build it in three days.'" Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus. "Do you make no answer? What is it that these are testifying against you?" But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" "I am He," Jesus answered; "yet I tell you that from this time on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy! "What is your verdict?" "He ought to die," they answered. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some struck him with the palms of their hands, and cried. "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it who struck you?"
At that instant, while he was yet speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a mob armed with swords and clubs, sent by the high priests and Scribes and elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign. "The one I kiss," he said, "is the man. Arrest him, and take him away safely." So he came and going straight up to Jesus he said: read more.
"Rabbi," and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and took him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus interposed, saying. "Are you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber? Day after day I was face to face with you in the Temple courts, teaching, and you did not seize me. But this is done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." Then they all forsook him and fled. One young man, however, began following him, with only a linen sheet thrown round his naked body. They seized him, but he left the linen sheet and fled away naked. Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him. Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire. Meanwhile the high priests and all of the Sanhedrin were trying to get evidence against Jesus, so as to have him put to death, but they found none; for though many gave false witness against him, their testimony did not agree. Some came forward and swore falsely, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will tear down this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands.'" But even their evidence did not agree. Then the high priest rose and stood forth among them. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked Jesus; "What is it that these testify against you?" But he remained silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him. "Are you the Christ," he said, "the Son of the Blessed?" "I am," Jesus answered, "and you all shall see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his vestments. "Why do we need any further witness?" he exclaimed. "Did you hear his blasphemy? What is your verdict?" Then they all condemn him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him while striking him and saying, "Prophesy." The officers, too, received him into custody with blows.
"Rabbi," and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and took him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus interposed, saying. "Are you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber? Day after day I was face to face with you in the Temple courts, teaching, and you did not seize me. But this is done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." Then they all forsook him and fled. One young man, however, began following him, with only a linen sheet thrown round his naked body. They seized him, but he left the linen sheet and fled away naked. Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him. Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire. Meanwhile the high priests and all of the Sanhedrin were trying to get evidence against Jesus, so as to have him put to death, but they found none; for though many gave false witness against him, their testimony did not agree. Some came forward and swore falsely, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will tear down this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands.'" But even their evidence did not agree. Then the high priest rose and stood forth among them. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked Jesus; "What is it that these testify against you?" But he remained silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him. "Are you the Christ," he said, "the Son of the Blessed?" "I am," Jesus answered, "and you all shall see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his vestments. "Why do we need any further witness?" he exclaimed. "Did you hear his blasphemy? What is your verdict?" Then they all condemn him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him while striking him and saying, "Prophesy." The officers, too, received him into custody with blows.
Then Jesus said to the corps of priests and captains of the temple and elders who had come out to arrest him. "Have ye come for me with swords and clubs to arrest me like a robber? "When daily I was with you in the temple you did not stretch out your hands to take me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness." So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off. read more.
And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying. Meanwhile the men who were holding Jesus in custody kept mocking and striking him. They would blindfold him and ask him. "Prophesy! Tell who struck you!" And they said many other insulting things against him. When it became the day the elders if the people met with the high priests and the Scribes and had brought before the Sanhedrin, saying. "Are you the Christ? Tell us!" "If I tell you," he answered, "you will not believe; "And if I ask you, you will not answer. "But from henceforth the Son of man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." Then they all said, "Are you then the Son of God." "What need we of further evidence? for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips."
And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying. Meanwhile the men who were holding Jesus in custody kept mocking and striking him. They would blindfold him and ask him. "Prophesy! Tell who struck you!" And they said many other insulting things against him. When it became the day the elders if the people met with the high priests and the Scribes and had brought before the Sanhedrin, saying. "Are you the Christ? Tell us!" "If I tell you," he answered, "you will not believe; "And if I ask you, you will not answer. "But from henceforth the Son of man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." Then they all said, "Are you then the Son of God." "What need we of further evidence? for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips."
While they were addressing the people the priests, the commander of the Temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, incensed at their teaching the people, and proclaiming, in the case of Jesus, the resurrection from the dead. They arrested them, and put them in prison till the next day, for it was already evening. read more.
But many of those who had heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. There was held in Jerusalem, next morning, a meeting of their rulers, the elders and scribes, and Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high priests family were present. Then they made the men stand before them and demanded, "By what power, or in what name, have you fellows done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them. "Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being examined today concerning a benefit conferred upon a cripple, as to how has this man been cured, "be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand before you strong and well. "For he is the Stone, cast aside by you builders, which has become the head stone of the corner. "There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, in which we must be saved." Now when they beheld the glad fearlessness of Peter and John and had perceived that they were amazed; and they began to recognize them, that they were companions of Jesus. But since they saw the man standing with them who had been healed, they had nothing to answer. So they bade them withdraw from the Sanhedrin, while they conferred together. "What," said they, "shall we do with these men? For it is well known throughout Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it. "But that the matter may spread no further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak to any one hereafter about this name." So they summoned them, and ordered them not to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John said in reply. "Do you decide whether in the sight of God it is right to obey you rather than God; but for our part, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." So when they had further threatened them they let the apostles go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them because of the people, for everybody was glorifying God over what had happened.
But many of those who had heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. There was held in Jerusalem, next morning, a meeting of their rulers, the elders and scribes, and Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high priests family were present. Then they made the men stand before them and demanded, "By what power, or in what name, have you fellows done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them. "Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being examined today concerning a benefit conferred upon a cripple, as to how has this man been cured, "be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand before you strong and well. "For he is the Stone, cast aside by you builders, which has become the head stone of the corner. "There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, in which we must be saved." Now when they beheld the glad fearlessness of Peter and John and had perceived that they were amazed; and they began to recognize them, that they were companions of Jesus. But since they saw the man standing with them who had been healed, they had nothing to answer. So they bade them withdraw from the Sanhedrin, while they conferred together. "What," said they, "shall we do with these men? For it is well known throughout Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it. "But that the matter may spread no further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak to any one hereafter about this name." So they summoned them, and ordered them not to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John said in reply. "Do you decide whether in the sight of God it is right to obey you rather than God; but for our part, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." So when they had further threatened them they let the apostles go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them because of the people, for everybody was glorifying God over what had happened.
But certain men from the so-called "Synagogue of the Freedmen" and certain Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, Cilicians, and men from Roman Asia, started to dispute with Stephen, but were unable to withstand the wisdom and spirit with which he used to speak. Then they instigated some to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemy against Moses and against God;" and in this way they excited the people. read more.
The elders and the scribes rushed upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the Sanhedrin. They also set up false witnesses who testified. "This fellow is continually talking against the Holy Place and against the law. "For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which were handed down to us by Moses." Then all who were sitting in the council at once fixed their eyes upon him, and saw his face like the face of an angel.
The elders and the scribes rushed upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the Sanhedrin. They also set up false witnesses who testified. "This fellow is continually talking against the Holy Place and against the law. "For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which were handed down to us by Moses." Then all who were sitting in the council at once fixed their eyes upon him, and saw his face like the face of an angel.
And the high priest said, "Are these things so?" Stephen answered. "Listen, brothers and fathers. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, "Leave your country and your kindred, and come to whatever land I will show you. read more.
"So he left Chaldea and settled in Haran, and from there, after his father's death, God moved him to this land which you inhabit. "But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground; yet he promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity??e at that time being childless. "What God said was this. "'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. "'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them I will judge, said God, 'and after ward they shall come out, and they shall worship me in this place. "Then he gave him a covenant of circumcision, and under this covenant he became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs. "The patriarchs out of jealousy sold Joseph into Egypt. "But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household. "Then there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, so that our ancestors could not find food. "But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent our ancestors there on their first visit. "On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage. "Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his family, numbering seventy-five souls, to come to him; "and Jacob went down into Egypt. "There he died, and our ancestors also, and they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. "but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham, the people multiplied and increased in Egypt; "until there arose a king who knew not Joseph. "He dealt craftily with our race, and oppressed our forefathers, by making them expose their infants so that they should not live. "In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his father's house. "When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son. "So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works. "And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel; "and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought redress for the one overpowered, by striking down the Egyptian. "(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.) "Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?' "But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us? "'Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons. "But at the end of forty years there appeared to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush. "When Moses saw it he was astonished at the sight. But when he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord said, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "And Moses trembled and dared not gaze. "And the Lord said: "Take off your sandals, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. "Truly I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and am come down to rescue them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt. "This Moses whom they refused when they said, Who made you to be a ruler and a judge? that same Moses we find God sending as a ruler and a redeemer by the hand in the bush. "This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years. "It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me. "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us. "To him our ancestors would not be obedient, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt. "Said they to Aaron. "Make Gods for us who shall march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him. "And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to this idol, and began to rejoice over what they had made with their hands. "So God turned from them, and gave them up to the worship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the book of the Prophets. "Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, O House of Israel? No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up??he images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon. "In the wilderness our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony built, as he appointed who told Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen. "That tabernacle was brought in by our ancestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua entered on the possession of the nations whom God thrust out before them, until the days of David. "David obtained favor with God, and asked permission to find a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob. "But it was Solomon who built him a house. "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as said the prophet. "The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet; What kind of house will you build for me? saith the Lord. Or what resting-place shall I have? Did not my hand make this universe? "Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you. "Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become??53 "you who received the law, given through angels, and obeyed it not." As they heard these words they became furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look, I see heaven open," he said, "And the Son of man standing at the right hand of God." With a loud outcry they stopped their ears, and rushed upon Stephen in a body, dragged him outside the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. So they stoned Stephen while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
"So he left Chaldea and settled in Haran, and from there, after his father's death, God moved him to this land which you inhabit. "But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground; yet he promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity??e at that time being childless. "What God said was this. "'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. "'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them I will judge, said God, 'and after ward they shall come out, and they shall worship me in this place. "Then he gave him a covenant of circumcision, and under this covenant he became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs. "The patriarchs out of jealousy sold Joseph into Egypt. "But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household. "Then there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, so that our ancestors could not find food. "But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent our ancestors there on their first visit. "On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage. "Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his family, numbering seventy-five souls, to come to him; "and Jacob went down into Egypt. "There he died, and our ancestors also, and they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. "but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham, the people multiplied and increased in Egypt; "until there arose a king who knew not Joseph. "He dealt craftily with our race, and oppressed our forefathers, by making them expose their infants so that they should not live. "In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his father's house. "When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son. "So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works. "And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel; "and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought redress for the one overpowered, by striking down the Egyptian. "(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.) "Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?' "But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us? "'Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons. "But at the end of forty years there appeared to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush. "When Moses saw it he was astonished at the sight. But when he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord said, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "And Moses trembled and dared not gaze. "And the Lord said: "Take off your sandals, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. "Truly I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and am come down to rescue them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt. "This Moses whom they refused when they said, Who made you to be a ruler and a judge? that same Moses we find God sending as a ruler and a redeemer by the hand in the bush. "This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years. "It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me. "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us. "To him our ancestors would not be obedient, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt. "Said they to Aaron. "Make Gods for us who shall march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him. "And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to this idol, and began to rejoice over what they had made with their hands. "So God turned from them, and gave them up to the worship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the book of the Prophets. "Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, O House of Israel? No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up??he images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon. "In the wilderness our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony built, as he appointed who told Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen. "That tabernacle was brought in by our ancestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua entered on the possession of the nations whom God thrust out before them, until the days of David. "David obtained favor with God, and asked permission to find a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob. "But it was Solomon who built him a house. "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as said the prophet. "The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet; What kind of house will you build for me? saith the Lord. Or what resting-place shall I have? Did not my hand make this universe? "Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you. "Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become??53 "you who received the law, given through angels, and obeyed it not." As they heard these words they became furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look, I see heaven open," he said, "And the Son of man standing at the right hand of God." With a loud outcry they stopped their ears, and rushed upon Stephen in a body, dragged him outside the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. So they stoned Stephen while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
moses » Takes the life of an egyptian taskmaster; flees from egypt; finds refuge among the midianites
"and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought redress for the one overpowered, by striking down the Egyptian. "(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.) "Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?' read more.
"But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us? "'Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.
"But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us? "'Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.
Select readings » Stephen's defense
And the high priest said, "Are these things so?" Stephen answered. "Listen, brothers and fathers. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, "Leave your country and your kindred, and come to whatever land I will show you. read more.
"So he left Chaldea and settled in Haran, and from there, after his father's death, God moved him to this land which you inhabit. "But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground; yet he promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity??e at that time being childless. "What God said was this. "'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. "'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them I will judge, said God, 'and after ward they shall come out, and they shall worship me in this place. "Then he gave him a covenant of circumcision, and under this covenant he became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs. "The patriarchs out of jealousy sold Joseph into Egypt. "But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household. "Then there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, so that our ancestors could not find food. "But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent our ancestors there on their first visit. "On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage. "Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his family, numbering seventy-five souls, to come to him; "and Jacob went down into Egypt. "There he died, and our ancestors also, and they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. "but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham, the people multiplied and increased in Egypt; "until there arose a king who knew not Joseph. "He dealt craftily with our race, and oppressed our forefathers, by making them expose their infants so that they should not live. "In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his father's house. "When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son. "So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works. "And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel; "and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought redress for the one overpowered, by striking down the Egyptian. "(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.) "Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?' "But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us? "'Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons. "But at the end of forty years there appeared to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush. "When Moses saw it he was astonished at the sight. But when he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord said, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "And Moses trembled and dared not gaze. "And the Lord said: "Take off your sandals, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. "Truly I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and am come down to rescue them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt. "This Moses whom they refused when they said, Who made you to be a ruler and a judge? that same Moses we find God sending as a ruler and a redeemer by the hand in the bush. "This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years. "It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me. "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us. "To him our ancestors would not be obedient, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt. "Said they to Aaron. "Make Gods for us who shall march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him. "And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to this idol, and began to rejoice over what they had made with their hands. "So God turned from them, and gave them up to the worship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the book of the Prophets. "Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, O House of Israel? No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up??he images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon. "In the wilderness our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony built, as he appointed who told Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen. "That tabernacle was brought in by our ancestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua entered on the possession of the nations whom God thrust out before them, until the days of David. "David obtained favor with God, and asked permission to find a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob. "But it was Solomon who built him a house. "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as said the prophet. "The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet; What kind of house will you build for me? saith the Lord. Or what resting-place shall I have? Did not my hand make this universe? "Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you. "Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become??53 "you who received the law, given through angels, and obeyed it not." As they heard these words they became furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look, I see heaven open," he said, "And the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."
"So he left Chaldea and settled in Haran, and from there, after his father's death, God moved him to this land which you inhabit. "But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground; yet he promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity??e at that time being childless. "What God said was this. "'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. "'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them I will judge, said God, 'and after ward they shall come out, and they shall worship me in this place. "Then he gave him a covenant of circumcision, and under this covenant he became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs. "The patriarchs out of jealousy sold Joseph into Egypt. "But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household. "Then there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, so that our ancestors could not find food. "But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent our ancestors there on their first visit. "On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage. "Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his family, numbering seventy-five souls, to come to him; "and Jacob went down into Egypt. "There he died, and our ancestors also, and they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. "but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham, the people multiplied and increased in Egypt; "until there arose a king who knew not Joseph. "He dealt craftily with our race, and oppressed our forefathers, by making them expose their infants so that they should not live. "In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his father's house. "When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son. "So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works. "And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel; "and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought redress for the one overpowered, by striking down the Egyptian. "(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.) "Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?' "But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us? "'Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons. "But at the end of forty years there appeared to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush. "When Moses saw it he was astonished at the sight. But when he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord said, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "And Moses trembled and dared not gaze. "And the Lord said: "Take off your sandals, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. "Truly I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and am come down to rescue them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt. "This Moses whom they refused when they said, Who made you to be a ruler and a judge? that same Moses we find God sending as a ruler and a redeemer by the hand in the bush. "This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years. "It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me. "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us. "To him our ancestors would not be obedient, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt. "Said they to Aaron. "Make Gods for us who shall march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him. "And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to this idol, and began to rejoice over what they had made with their hands. "So God turned from them, and gave them up to the worship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the book of the Prophets. "Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, O House of Israel? No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up??he images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon. "In the wilderness our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony built, as he appointed who told Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen. "That tabernacle was brought in by our ancestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua entered on the possession of the nations whom God thrust out before them, until the days of David. "David obtained favor with God, and asked permission to find a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob. "But it was Solomon who built him a house. "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as said the prophet. "The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet; What kind of house will you build for me? saith the Lord. Or what resting-place shall I have? Did not my hand make this universe? "Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you. "Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become??53 "you who received the law, given through angels, and obeyed it not." As they heard these words they became furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look, I see heaven open," he said, "And the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."