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When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!

If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,

If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,

…then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

…then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response.

So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.

But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”

But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”

But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.

But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.

After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,

…as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.

…and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?

Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.

Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.

Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out

At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.

“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”

“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”

God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.

When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.

“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.

“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.

Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.

Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.

So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.

Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them

Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them

…and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

…and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

…but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”

For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

…and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’

He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.

He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.

On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.

On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.

So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.

Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.

As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.

He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.

And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him.

He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.

The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’

Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’

At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.

After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.

When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:

When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:

‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

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

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

This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.

He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.

He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.