8  And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

9  But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.

10  But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

11  Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God."

12  And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council.

13  They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;

14  for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us."

15  And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.

3  "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

4  "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

5  The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

6  And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

1  Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.

2  So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

3  "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

1  "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.

2  "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.

3  "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.

4  "Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, A leader and commander for the peoples.

5  "Behold, you will call a nation you do not know, And a nation which knows you not will run to you, Because of the LORD your God, even the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you."

6  Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.

7  Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

8  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

9  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

10  "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11  So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

12  "For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

13  "Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, And it will be a memorial to the LORD, For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off."

1  "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.

2  "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.

3  "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.

4  "Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, A leader and commander for the peoples.

5  "Behold, you will call a nation you do not know, And a nation which knows you not will run to you, Because of the LORD your God, even the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you."

6  Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.

7  Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

8  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

9  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

10  "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

11  So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

12  "For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

13  "Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, And it will be a memorial to the LORD, For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off."

Matthew 2:16-18 (NASB)

16  Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.

17  Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

18  "A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."

40  They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.

41  So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

42  And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

33  But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.

34  But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.

35  And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.

36  "For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

37  "After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.

38  "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;

39  but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."

27  When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,

28  saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."

29  But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.

30  "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.

31  "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

32  "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

1  “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2  “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

3  I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

4  But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

5  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

6  Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’