Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Apostates » Examples of
And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they fornicated after other gods and bowed themselves unto them; they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers had walked hearing the commandments of the LORD; but they did not do so.
certain men, the sons of Belial, are gone out from among you and have incited the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known,
for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron and said unto him, Rise up, make us gods which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.
Nevertheless, they were contentious and rebelled against thee and cast thy law behind their backs and slew thy prophets who testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great abominations.
And when they entered unto the Gentiles, where they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD and are gone forth out of his land.
to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
and have backslidden, be renewed again by repentance, crucifying again for themselves the Son of God and putting him to an open shame.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but this happened that it might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Calf of gold » Was made » After an egyptian model
to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
And then they made a calf and offered sacrifice unto the idol and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
Court » Accused spoke in his own defense
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We must persuade God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree. God has exalted him with his right hand as Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. read more.
And we are his witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those that persuade him.
And we are his witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those that persuade him.
And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Then Peter and John answered and said unto them, Judge whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Then the priests and the prophets spoke unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he has prophesied against this city as ye have heard with your ears. Then Jeremiah spoke unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Therefore now amend your ways and your doings and hear the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD himself will repent of the evil that he has pronounced against you. read more.
As for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as seems good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and upon its inhabitants; for of a truth the LORD has sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears. Then the princes and all the people said unto the priests and to the prophets: This man is not worthy to die, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
As for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as seems good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and upon its inhabitants; for of a truth the LORD has sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears. Then the princes and all the people said unto the priests and to the prophets: This man is not worthy to die, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
And the princes of the priests accused him of many things. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of. But Jesus yet answered nothing, so that Pilate marvelled.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye princes of the people and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole, be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole. read more.
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men in which we can be saved.
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men in which we can be saved.
Then the prince of the priests said, Are these things so? And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and come into the land which I shall show thee. read more.
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and dwelt in Haran; and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, in which ye now dwell. And he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. And God spoke thus, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into slavery and mistreat them four hundred years. And the Gentiles unto whom they shall be in slavery I will judge, said God; and after that they shall come forth and serve me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him and delivered him out of all his afflictions and gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was wheat in Egypt, he sent our fathers the first time. And in the second Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's lineage was made known unto Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob unto him and all his kindred, seventy-five souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers, who were carried over into Shechem and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor of Shechem. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who did not know Joseph. The same dealt subtly with our kindred and mistreated our fathers so that they exposed their babies to death, to the end that the generation would cease. In which time Moses was born and was beautiful to God and was nourished in his father's house three months; and when he was put in danger, Pharaoh's daughter took him in and nourished him as her own son. And Moses was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in his words and deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the sons of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and smote the Egyptian, avenging the oppressed; for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God was to give them saving health by his hand, but they had not understood. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove and urged them to peace, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? Then Moses fled at this word and became a sojourner in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were expired, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the vision; and as he drew near to consider it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled and dared not to behold. Then the Lord said to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet; for the place where thou dost stand is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. This Moses, whom they had refused, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge? the same did God send as prince and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, showing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is that Moses, who said unto the sons of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him in the Mount Sinai and with our fathers, who received the oracles of life to give unto us; to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. And then they made a calf and offered sacrifice unto the idol and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God withdrew and gave them up to worship the host of the heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? On the contrary, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them; and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen, which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers unto the days of David, who found grace before God and asked to provide a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. Howbeit the most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool; what house will ye build me? saith the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Has not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do ye. Who of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? and they have slain those who announced before the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were divided in their hearts and gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and dwelt in Haran; and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, in which ye now dwell. And he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. And God spoke thus, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into slavery and mistreat them four hundred years. And the Gentiles unto whom they shall be in slavery I will judge, said God; and after that they shall come forth and serve me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him and delivered him out of all his afflictions and gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was wheat in Egypt, he sent our fathers the first time. And in the second Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's lineage was made known unto Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob unto him and all his kindred, seventy-five souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers, who were carried over into Shechem and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor of Shechem. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who did not know Joseph. The same dealt subtly with our kindred and mistreated our fathers so that they exposed their babies to death, to the end that the generation would cease. In which time Moses was born and was beautiful to God and was nourished in his father's house three months; and when he was put in danger, Pharaoh's daughter took him in and nourished him as her own son. And Moses was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in his words and deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the sons of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and smote the Egyptian, avenging the oppressed; for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God was to give them saving health by his hand, but they had not understood. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove and urged them to peace, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? Then Moses fled at this word and became a sojourner in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were expired, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the vision; and as he drew near to consider it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled and dared not to behold. Then the Lord said to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet; for the place where thou dost stand is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. This Moses, whom they had refused, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge? the same did God send as prince and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, showing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is that Moses, who said unto the sons of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him in the Mount Sinai and with our fathers, who received the oracles of life to give unto us; to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. And then they made a calf and offered sacrifice unto the idol and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God withdrew and gave them up to worship the host of the heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? On the contrary, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them; and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen, which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers unto the days of David, who found grace before God and asked to provide a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. Howbeit the most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool; what house will ye build me? saith the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Has not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do ye. Who of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? and they have slain those who announced before the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were divided in their hearts and gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Then Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the prince of the priests, Ananias, commanded those that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then Paul said unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whitewashed wall, for dost thou sit to judge me after the law and command me to be smitten contrary to the law? read more.
And those that stood by said, Dost thou revile God's high priest? Then Paul said, I did not know, brethren, that he was the prince of the priests, for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.
And those that stood by said, Dost thou revile God's high priest? Then Paul said, I did not know, brethren, that he was the prince of the priests, for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.
Government » Mosaic » Constitutes, with priests and scribes, a court for the trial of both civil and ecclesiastical causes
And he began to teach them that it was convenient that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders and of the princes of the priests and of the scribes, and be killed and after three days rise again.
When the morning was come, all the princes of the priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death, and when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
And when he was come into the temple, the princes of the priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
And straightway in the morning the princes of the priests having held a consultation with the elders and with the scribes and with the whole council, took Jesus away bound and delivered him to Pilate.
Then the princes of the priests and the scribes and the elders of the people assembled together in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and took counsel that they might take Jesus by guile and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
And those that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the patio of the high priest and went in and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the princes of the priests and the elders and all the council sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; read more.
but found none; though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses who said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing to what these witness against thee? But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said it; nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He has spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then they spit in his face and buffeted him, and others smote him with the staves, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ; who is he that smote thee?
but found none; though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses who said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing to what these witness against thee? But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said it; nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He has spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then they spit in his face and buffeted him, and others smote him with the staves, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ; who is he that smote thee?
And immediately, while he yet spoke, Judas came, who was one of the twelve, and with him a multitude with swords and staves from the princes of the priests and of the scribes and of the elders. And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him and lead him away securely. And as soon as he was come, he went straightway to him and said, Master, Master, and kissed him. read more.
And they laid their hands on him and took him. And one of them that stood by drew a sword and smote the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not, but it is this way that the scriptures might be fulfilled. And they all forsook him and fled. And there followed him a certain young man having a linen cloth cast about his naked body, and the young men laid hold on him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked. And they brought Jesus to the high priest, and with him were assembled all the princes of the priests and the elders and the scribes. But Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest, and he was seated with the servants and warming himself at the fire. And the princes of the priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death and found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their witness did not agree together. And there arose some that bore false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together. So the high priest, standing up in the midst, asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing to what these witness against thee? But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said unto him, I AM, and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God and coming in the clouds of the heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes and said, What need have we any more for witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to buffet him and to say unto him, Prophesy. And the servants struck him with the palms of their hands.
And they laid their hands on him and took him. And one of them that stood by drew a sword and smote the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not, but it is this way that the scriptures might be fulfilled. And they all forsook him and fled. And there followed him a certain young man having a linen cloth cast about his naked body, and the young men laid hold on him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked. And they brought Jesus to the high priest, and with him were assembled all the princes of the priests and the elders and the scribes. But Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest, and he was seated with the servants and warming himself at the fire. And the princes of the priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death and found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their witness did not agree together. And there arose some that bore false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together. So the high priest, standing up in the midst, asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing to what these witness against thee? But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said unto him, I AM, and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God and coming in the clouds of the heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes and said, What need have we any more for witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to buffet him and to say unto him, Prophesy. And the servants struck him with the palms of their hands.
Then Jesus said unto the princes of the priests and captains of the temple and the elders, who were come to him, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Then they took him and led him and brought him into the house of the prince of the priests. And Peter followed afar off. read more.
And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire and earnestly looked upon him and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately while he yet spoke, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord how he had said unto him, Before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me three times. And Peter went out and wept bitterly. And the men that held Jesus mocked him and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And they spoke many other things blasphemously against him. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the princes of the priests and the scribes came together and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe; and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me nor let me go; but from now on the Son of man shall sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I AM. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire and earnestly looked upon him and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately while he yet spoke, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord how he had said unto him, Before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me three times. And Peter went out and wept bitterly. And the men that held Jesus mocked him and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And they spoke many other things blasphemously against him. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the princes of the priests and the scribes came together and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe; and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me nor let me go; but from now on the Son of man shall sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I AM. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
And as they spoke unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, resentful that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in jail unto the next day, for it was now evening. read more.
But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it came to pass on the next day that their princes and elders and scribes and Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power or by what name have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye princes of the people and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole, be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men in which we can be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is manifest to all those that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them that from now on they speak to no man in this name. And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Then Peter and John answered and said unto them, Judge whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way how they might punish them because of the people, for everyone glorified God for that which was done.
But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it came to pass on the next day that their princes and elders and scribes and Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power or by what name have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye princes of the people and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole, be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men in which we can be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is manifest to all those that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them that from now on they speak to no man in this name. And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Then Peter and John answered and said unto them, Judge whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way how they might punish them because of the people, for everyone glorified God for that which was done.
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of those of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God. read more.
And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes and came upon him and caught him and brought him to the council and set up false witnesses, who said, This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered us. Then all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes and came upon him and caught him and brought him to the council and set up false witnesses, who said, This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered us. Then all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
Then the prince of the priests said, Are these things so? And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and come into the land which I shall show thee. read more.
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and dwelt in Haran; and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, in which ye now dwell. And he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. And God spoke thus, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into slavery and mistreat them four hundred years. And the Gentiles unto whom they shall be in slavery I will judge, said God; and after that they shall come forth and serve me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him and delivered him out of all his afflictions and gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was wheat in Egypt, he sent our fathers the first time. And in the second Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's lineage was made known unto Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob unto him and all his kindred, seventy-five souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers, who were carried over into Shechem and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor of Shechem. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who did not know Joseph. The same dealt subtly with our kindred and mistreated our fathers so that they exposed their babies to death, to the end that the generation would cease. In which time Moses was born and was beautiful to God and was nourished in his father's house three months; and when he was put in danger, Pharaoh's daughter took him in and nourished him as her own son. And Moses was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in his words and deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the sons of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and smote the Egyptian, avenging the oppressed; for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God was to give them saving health by his hand, but they had not understood. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove and urged them to peace, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? Then Moses fled at this word and became a sojourner in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were expired, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the vision; and as he drew near to consider it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled and dared not to behold. Then the Lord said to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet; for the place where thou dost stand is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. This Moses, whom they had refused, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge? the same did God send as prince and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, showing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is that Moses, who said unto the sons of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him in the Mount Sinai and with our fathers, who received the oracles of life to give unto us; to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. And then they made a calf and offered sacrifice unto the idol and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God withdrew and gave them up to worship the host of the heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? On the contrary, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them; and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen, which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers unto the days of David, who found grace before God and asked to provide a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. Howbeit the most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool; what house will ye build me? saith the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Has not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do ye. Who of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? and they have slain those who announced before the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were divided in their hearts and gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. And crying out with a loud voice, they stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord; and casting him out of the city, they stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and dwelt in Haran; and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, in which ye now dwell. And he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. And God spoke thus, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into slavery and mistreat them four hundred years. And the Gentiles unto whom they shall be in slavery I will judge, said God; and after that they shall come forth and serve me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him and delivered him out of all his afflictions and gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was wheat in Egypt, he sent our fathers the first time. And in the second Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's lineage was made known unto Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob unto him and all his kindred, seventy-five souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers, who were carried over into Shechem and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor of Shechem. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who did not know Joseph. The same dealt subtly with our kindred and mistreated our fathers so that they exposed their babies to death, to the end that the generation would cease. In which time Moses was born and was beautiful to God and was nourished in his father's house three months; and when he was put in danger, Pharaoh's daughter took him in and nourished him as her own son. And Moses was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in his words and deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the sons of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and smote the Egyptian, avenging the oppressed; for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God was to give them saving health by his hand, but they had not understood. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove and urged them to peace, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? Then Moses fled at this word and became a sojourner in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were expired, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the vision; and as he drew near to consider it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled and dared not to behold. Then the Lord said to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet; for the place where thou dost stand is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. This Moses, whom they had refused, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge? the same did God send as prince and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, showing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is that Moses, who said unto the sons of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him in the Mount Sinai and with our fathers, who received the oracles of life to give unto us; to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. And then they made a calf and offered sacrifice unto the idol and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God withdrew and gave them up to worship the host of the heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? On the contrary, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them; and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen, which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers unto the days of David, who found grace before God and asked to provide a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. Howbeit the most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool; what house will ye build me? saith the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Has not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do ye. Who of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? and they have slain those who announced before the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were divided in their hearts and gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. And crying out with a loud voice, they stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord; and casting him out of the city, they stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Idolatry » The jews » Brought, out of egypt with them
Neither did she leave her whoredoms of Egypt; for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity and poured their whoredom upon her.
to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. And then they made a calf and offered sacrifice unto the idol and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
Select readings » Stephen's defense
Then the prince of the priests said, Are these things so? And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and come into the land which I shall show thee. read more.
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and dwelt in Haran; and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, in which ye now dwell. And he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. And God spoke thus, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into slavery and mistreat them four hundred years. And the Gentiles unto whom they shall be in slavery I will judge, said God; and after that they shall come forth and serve me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him and delivered him out of all his afflictions and gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was wheat in Egypt, he sent our fathers the first time. And in the second Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's lineage was made known unto Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob unto him and all his kindred, seventy-five souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers, who were carried over into Shechem and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor of Shechem. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who did not know Joseph. The same dealt subtly with our kindred and mistreated our fathers so that they exposed their babies to death, to the end that the generation would cease. In which time Moses was born and was beautiful to God and was nourished in his father's house three months; and when he was put in danger, Pharaoh's daughter took him in and nourished him as her own son. And Moses was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in his words and deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the sons of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and smote the Egyptian, avenging the oppressed; for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God was to give them saving health by his hand, but they had not understood. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove and urged them to peace, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? Then Moses fled at this word and became a sojourner in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were expired, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the vision; and as he drew near to consider it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled and dared not to behold. Then the Lord said to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet; for the place where thou dost stand is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. This Moses, whom they had refused, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge? the same did God send as prince and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, showing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is that Moses, who said unto the sons of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him in the Mount Sinai and with our fathers, who received the oracles of life to give unto us; to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. And then they made a calf and offered sacrifice unto the idol and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God withdrew and gave them up to worship the host of the heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? On the contrary, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them; and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen, which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers unto the days of David, who found grace before God and asked to provide a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. Howbeit the most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool; what house will ye build me? saith the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Has not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do ye. Who of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? and they have slain those who announced before the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were divided in their hearts and gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and dwelt in Haran; and from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, in which ye now dwell. And he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. And God spoke thus, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into slavery and mistreat them four hundred years. And the Gentiles unto whom they shall be in slavery I will judge, said God; and after that they shall come forth and serve me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him and delivered him out of all his afflictions and gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was wheat in Egypt, he sent our fathers the first time. And in the second Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's lineage was made known unto Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob unto him and all his kindred, seventy-five souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers, who were carried over into Shechem and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor of Shechem. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose, who did not know Joseph. The same dealt subtly with our kindred and mistreated our fathers so that they exposed their babies to death, to the end that the generation would cease. In which time Moses was born and was beautiful to God and was nourished in his father's house three months; and when he was put in danger, Pharaoh's daughter took him in and nourished him as her own son. And Moses was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in his words and deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the sons of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and smote the Egyptian, avenging the oppressed; for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God was to give them saving health by his hand, but they had not understood. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove and urged them to peace, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? Then Moses fled at this word and became a sojourner in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were expired, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the vision; and as he drew near to consider it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled and dared not to behold. Then the Lord said to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet; for the place where thou dost stand is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. This Moses, whom they had refused, saying, Who made thee a prince and a judge? the same did God send as prince and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, showing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is that Moses, who said unto the sons of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him in the Mount Sinai and with our fathers, who received the oracles of life to give unto us; to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us; for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. And then they made a calf and offered sacrifice unto the idol and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God withdrew and gave them up to worship the host of the heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? On the contrary, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them; and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen, which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers unto the days of David, who found grace before God and asked to provide a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. Howbeit the most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool; what house will ye build me? saith the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Has not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do ye. Who of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? and they have slain those who announced before the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were divided in their hearts and gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.