The Persecution of the Church Begins

And they killed the ones announcing beforehand concerning the coming of the Righteous One, of Whom now betrayers and murders you have come to be

Acts 7:51-8:11

7.51 Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in the heart and ears, you are always falling against the Holy Spirit. As your fathers, also you. 7.52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed the ones announcing beforehand concerning the coming of the Righteous One, of Whom now betrayers and murders you have come to be, 7.53 you whoever received the law because of regulations from messengers and you did not guard. 7.54 And after hearing these things, they were cut to their hearts and began gnashed their teeth upon him. 7.55 And existing full of the Holy Spirit, while gazing into the heaven, he discerned the glory of God and Jesus standing out from God’s right hand. 7.56 And he said, “Look with discernment, I am watching the heavens after being opened and the Son of man in a state of standing out from the right hand of God.” 7.57 And crying with a load voice, they held their ears and rushed with one accord upon him. 7.58 And after casting him outside of the city, they began stoning him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul, 7.59 and continued stoning Stephen while he called and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 7.60 And after setting on his knees, he cried out with a load voice, “Lord, do not stand this sin to them.” And he fell asleep after saying this.

8.1 And Saul was consenting to his murder.  And a great persecution came to be in that day upon the assembly, the one in Jerusalem and they were all scattered according to the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 8.2 And devout men buried Stephen and made great lamination over him. 8.3 And Saul continued ravaging the assembly, while entering according to the houses, while dragging both men and women he handed them over to prison. 8.4 Therefore indeed, the ones scattered passed through bringing the good news of the Word. 8.5 And Philip, after coming down into the city of Samaria, proclaimed to them the Christ. 8.6 And the crowd was giving attention to the sayings from Philip with one accord, in they heard and saw the signs which he was doing. 8.7 For from many of the ones having unclean spirits, while crying with a load voice, they were coming out, and many disabled and lame they were healed. 8.8 And great joy came to be in that city. 8.9 But a certain man named Simon, formally existing in the city, a magician and one amazing the people of Samaria while saying to be himself someone great, 8.10 to whom they gave attention before from the small as far as the great, while saying, “This one is the inherent ability from the great God.” 8.11 And there were giving attention to him because for a significant time the magician amazed them.