Study Desk

insomuch that they brought the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least, the shadow of Peter might cover some of them, as he pass'd by.

when they heard that, they entred into the temple early in the morning, and taught. in the mean time, the high priest, and those of his party, being arrived at the council-chamber, summon'd all the Jewish senate to meet, and sent to the prison to bring the apostles before them.

when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

you cannot defeat it; perhaps you may be found warring against heaven." To him they agreed: and

after the apostles were called in, and scourged, they charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then releas'd them. out they went from the council,

and every day either in the temple or in private houses they continued to preach and proclaim Jesus to be the Christ.

this proposition pleased the whole assembly: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.

they suborned men, who said, we have heard him speak irreverently of Moses, and of God.

and they stirred up the people, the senators, and the doctors of law, who came and seiz'd him, and brought him to the council,

where they produc'd false witnesses, who said, this man is continually inveighing against the holy place, and against the law.

God declar'd likewise, "that his posterity should sojourn in a strange land, where they should be enslaved and abused four hundred years.

and the nation to whom they shall be in bondage, will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place."

this Moses whom they refused, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge? the very same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hands of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.

him our fathers would not obey, but rejected him, and they return'd to their Egyptian disposition.

'twas then they made a calf, and offered sacrifice to the idol, triumphing in the works of their own hands.

which our fathers and Joshua having receiv'd, they carry'd it into the territory of those nations whom God drove out upon their arrival: where it staid to the time of David, who was favoured by God,

was there ever any prophet whom your fathers did not persecute? have they not slain those who predicted the coming of that just person whom you have so lately betrayed and murder'd?

When they heard these things, they were transported with rage, and gnashed their teeth against him.

then they broke out into a loud cry, and stopping their ears, fell upon him all at once.

then they dragg'd him out of the city, and stoned him: the false witnesses having laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.