44:005:030 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
44:005:031 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
44:005:032 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
44:005:033 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
44:005:034 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
44:005:035 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
44:005:036 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
44:005:037 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
44:005:038 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
44:005:039 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
44:005:040 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
44:005:041 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
44:005:042 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
44:006:001 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
44:006:002 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
44:006:003 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
44:006:004 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
44:006:005 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
44:006:006 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
44:006:007 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
44:006:008 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
44:006:009 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
44:006:010 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
44:006:011 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
44:006:012 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
44:006:013 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
44:006:014 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
44:006:015 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
44:007:001 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
44:007:002 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
44:007:003 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
44:007:004 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
44:007:005 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
44:007:006 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
44:007:007 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.
44:007:008 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
44:007:009 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
44:007:010 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
44:007:011 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
44:007:012 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
44:007:013 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
44:007:014 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
44:007:015 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
44:007:016 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
44:007:017 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
44:007:018 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
44:007:019 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
44:007:020 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
44:007:021 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
44:007:022 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
44:007:023 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
44:007:024 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
44:007:025 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
44:007:026 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
44:007:027