17 Then the high-priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which was the sect of the Sadducees), and were 18 filled with indignation, and laid [their] hands on the apo19 stles, and put them in the common prison. But an angel3 of the Lord opened the prison-doors by night, and brought 20 them out, and said, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to 21 the people all the words of this life*." And when they had heard this, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. Then the high-priest came, and those that were with him, and called together the council, and all the senate of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison, that 22 the apostles might be brought. But when the officers came, they found them not in the prison: and returned, and told, 23 saying, "The prison indeed we found shut with all safety, and the keepers standing before the doors: but when we 24 had opened them, we found no man within." Now, whenthe high-priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chiefpriests heard these words, they doubted concerning them, 25 what this would be. Then one came and told them, "Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the 26 temple, and teaching the people." Then the captain went together with the officers, and brought them without violence for they feared the people, lest they should have 27 been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high-priest' asked them, 28 saying, "Did not we strictly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and seek to bring this man's blood 29 upon us." Then Peter and the other apostles answered 30 and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus; whom ye killed, hav31 ing hanged him on a cross?: him God exalted 10 to his right 8 'Gr. heresy, N. m. 2 Or, in public custody. "these words of everlasting life." Verss. N. m. 6 told them, saying, R. T. 7 the priest, Mss. tree, N. m. 10 hath exalted, N. 3 Or, messenger, Sn. 4 Or, 5 standing without, &c. R. T. 8 hath raised up, N. 9 Gr. a hand, to be a leader1 and a saviour, to give repentance unto 32 Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are [his] witnesses 33 of these things; and so is the holy spirit also, which God hath given to those that obey him.” And when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, 34 and took counsel to kill them. Then there stood up in the council a certain Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, had in honour among all the people, and com35 manded to send the apostles out for a short time; and said unto them, "Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves 36 concerning these men, what ye intend to do. For before these days Theudas rose up, boasting himself to be some great one; to whom a number of about four hundred men joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as 37 obeyed him, were scattered and came to nought. After this man Judas of Galilee rose up, in the days of the enrolment, and drew away many people after him: and he also perish38 ed; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them go on for, if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be 39 overthrown: but, if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it3: beware also lest ye be found even to contend against God.” 40 And they were persuaded by him: and when they had called the apostles, they beat them, and commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were thought worthy to be shamefully treated for 42 the name of Jesus. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and to preach the glad tidings that Jesus is the Christ. 4 5 CH. VI. Now in those days, when the number of the disciples 1 Or, a chief. N.m. a leader and saviour, q. d. a leader of salvation. Comp. Heb. ii. 10. Sn. the men, Mss. 3 ye will not be able to overthrow them, Mss. 4 for his name, R. T. S was, N. U was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were overlook. 2 ed in the daily ministration of alms. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, "It is not reasonable that we should leave the word of 3 God, and attend on tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out from among you seven men of good report, full of the [holy] spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint* over 4 this business. But we will steadfastly continue in prayer, 5 and in the ministry of the word." And the words pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a 6 proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the apostles: and when these had prayed, they put their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased: and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem: and a great multitude of the priests became obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of God's favour and of power, did 9 great wonders and signs among the people. But there arose some of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and some of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with 10 Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and 11 the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words 12 against Moses, and against God." And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes; and these came suddenly upon him, and seized him, and brought him to the 3 mini5 full of 'Or, distribution, S. 49. N. m. Or, It is not pleasing to us, N. m. ster to the tables of the poor. N. t. 4 whom we may appoint, R. T. faith and power, R. T. i. e. full of miraculous faith or gifts. 6 words of blasphemy, Mss. * 66 Proselytes to the Jewish religion. Or, rather, foreign Grecizing Jews. See John vii. 35. ch. ix. 29. Syr. and ch. xi. 20." Newcome. 13 council, and set up false witnesses, who said, "This man ceaseth not to speak words' against the holy płace 2 and the 14 law. For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Na 2 zareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs 15 which Moses delivered to us." And all who sat in the council looked steadfastly on him, and saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. CH. VII. Then the high-priest said, "Are [then] these things 2 so?" And Stephen said, “Brethren, and fathers, hearken. 3 The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when 3 he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran; and said unto him, 'Depart from thy country, and from thy kindred, 4 and go into the land which I shall show thee.' Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Haran; and, when his father was dead, God removed him 5 thence into this land wherein ye now dwell; but gave him no inheritance in it, not even so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him, when as yet he had no 6 child. And God spake in this manner; that his offspring should sojourn in a foreign land, and that they should be brought into servitude, and afflicted, four hundred years. 7 And the nation, whom they shall serve, I will judge, said God; and after that they shall come forth, and worship me 8 in this place. And God gave him the covenant of circumcision: and afterward Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. 9 "And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph 10 into Egypt: but God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before 1 blasphemous words, R. T. 2 this holy place, R. T. and N. 3 Are these things, N. ♦ Gr. Men, brethren, &c. 5 Or, moved with envy at Joseph, sold him, N. m. Pharaoh king of Egypt; who made him governor over 11 Egypt and over all his household. Now there came a famine over all the land of Egypt1 and of Canaan, and great 12 affliction; and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our 13 fathers the first time. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren: and Joseph's kindred2 became 14 known to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent, and called his fa ther [Jacob] to him, and all his kindred, seventy-five per15 sons3. So Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, and 16 our fathers; and were carried to Shechem, and laid in the sepulchre which Jacob+ bought for a sum of money from the sons of Emmor the father of Shechem. 17 "But when the time of the promise, which God had sworn to Abraham, drew near, the people grew and mul18 tiplied in Egypt; till another king arose, who knew not Jo19 seph. He dealt subtilely with our kindred, and afflicted our fathers; so that they cast out their infants, that they might 20 not be preserved alive. At which time Moses was born, and was very beautiful, and was nourished in his father's 21 house three months. And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyp23 tians: and was mighty in his words and [in] deeds. And when he was forty years old, it came into his mind to visit 24 his brethren, the sons of Israel. And.when he saw one of them suffer wrongfully, he defended him, and avenged him 25 that was oppressed, and slew the Egyptian. Now he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God by his hand would give them deliverance: but they under 6 Or, 1 over all Egypt, Mss. 2 his kindred, Mss. 3 Gr. souls. 4 Gr. Abraham. in |
