Part 1285

6:7. And the word of the Lord increased: and the number of the disciples was multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great multitude also of the priests obeyed the faith.

6:8. And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, 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 God.

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 God 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 God 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 circumcision. And so he begot Isaac and circumcised 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 God 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.

7:16. And they were translated into Sichem and were laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Hemor, the son of Sichem.

7:17. And when the time of the promise drew near, which God had promised to Abraham, the people increased and were multiplied in Egypt.