5:29. But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey G.o.d rather than men.
5:30. The G.o.d of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging him upon a tree.
5:31. Him hath G.o.d exalted with his right hand, to be Prince and Saviour. to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins.
5:32. And we are witnesses of these things: and the Holy Ghost, whom G.o.d hath given to all that obey him.
5:33. When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart: and they thought to put them to death.
5:34. But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while.
5:35. And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men.
5:36. For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. Who was slain: and all that believed him were scattered and brought to nothing.
5:37. After this man, rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the enrolling, and drew away the people after him. He also perished: and all, even as many as consented to him, were dispersed.
5:38. And now, therefore, I say to you: Refrain from these men and let them alone. For if this council or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
5:39. But if it be of G.o.d, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against G.o.d. And they consented to him.
5:40. And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them that they should not speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them.
5:41. And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.
5:42. And every day they ceased not, in the temple and from house to house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.
Acts Chapter 6
The ordination of the seven deacons. The zeal of Stephen.
6:1. And in those days, the number of the disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Greeks... So they called the Jews that were born and brought up in Greece.
6:2. Then the twelve, calling together the mult.i.tude of the disciples, said: It is not reason that we should leave the word of G.o.d and serve tables.
6:3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
6:4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
6:5. And the saying was liked by all the mult.i.tude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor, and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.
6:6. These they set before the apostles: and they praying, imposed hands upon them.
6:7. And the word of the Lord increased: and the number of the disciples was multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great mult.i.tude also of the priests obeyed the faith.
6:8. And Stephen, full of grace and fort.i.tude, did great wonders and signs among the people.
6:9. Now there arose some, of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
6:10. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke.
6:11. Then they suborned men to say they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against G.o.d.
6:12. And they stirred up the people and the ancients and the scribes.
And running together, they took him and brought him to the council.
6:13. And they set up false witnesses, who said: This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place and the law.
6:14. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us.
6:15. And all that sat in the council, looking on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.
Acts Chapter 7
Stephen"s speech before the council. His martyrdom.
7:1. Then the high priest said: Are these things so?
7:2. Who said: Ye men, brethren and fathers, hear. The G.o.d of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charan.
7:3. And said to him: Go forth out of thy country and from thy kindred: and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
7:4. Then he went out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Charan.
And from thence, after his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein you now dwell.
7:5. And he gave him no inheritance in it: no, not the pace of a foot.
But he promised to give it him in possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
7:6. And G.o.d said to him: That his seed should sojourn in a strange country, and that they should bring them under bondage and treat them evil four hundred years.
7:7. And the nation which they shall serve will I judge (said the Lord): and after these things they shall go out and shall serve me in this place.
7:8. And he gave him the covenant of circ.u.mcision. And so he begot Isaac and circ.u.mcised him the eighth day: and Isaac begot Jacob: and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.
7:9. And the patriarchs, through envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. And G.o.d was with him,
7:10. And delivered him out of all his tribulations: and he gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharao, the king of Egypt. And he appointed him governor over Egypt and over all his house.
7:11. Now there came a famine upon all Egypt and Chanaan, and great tribulation: and our fathers found no food.
7:12. But when Jacob had heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent our fathers first.
7:13. And at the second time, Joseph was known by his brethren: and his kindred was made known to Pharao.
7:14. And Joseph sending, called thither Jacob, his father, and all his kindred, seventy-five souls.
7:15. So Jacob went down into Egypt. And he died, and our fathers.