took away some of the money, with the knowledge of his wife, and brought a part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

And Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart, that thou hast lied to the Holy Ghost, and stolen some of the money of the field?

If thou hadst had him, thou mightest have kept him; and when he was sold, it was in thy power. Why then didst thou make such a thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

And when Ananias heard these words, he fell down, and gave up the ghost. And great fear came upon all them that heard these things.

And the young men arose, and laid him aside, and carried him out, and buried him.

And it came to pass about three hours, that his wife came in, and knew not what was done.

But Peter said unto her, Tell me, sold ye the field so dear? And she said, Yea, so dearly.

And Peter said unto her, Why then are ye become one to tempt the Spirit of the LORD?
Behold, the feet of them that buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

And straightway she fell at his feet, and gave up the ghost. And the young men came, and found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her with her husband.

And great fear came upon all the congregation, and upon all them that heard these things.

And there were many signs and wonders done among the people by the hands of the apostles, and they were all with one accord in the hall of Solomon.

And the rest were not to be joined unto them: but the people thought much of them.

And the more were added that believed on the LORD, both men and women, 15. So that they carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and stretchers, that, when Peter came, his shadow might overshadow some of them.

There came also many from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing the sick, and those that were tormented with unclean spirits: and they were all healed.

And the high priest stood up, and all that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with zeal.

And laid hands on the apostles, and cast them into the common prison.

And the angel of the LORD opened the door of the prison in the night, and brought them forth, and said:

Go ye, stand, and speak in the temple unto the people all the words of this life.

And when they had heard it, they went early into the temple, and taught. And the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch them.

And the servants came, and found them not in prison, and came again, and preached 23. And they said: We found the prison shut up with all diligence, and the keepers without standing before the doors: but when we opened, we found none within.

And when the high priest, and the captain of the temple, and the other chief priests, heard this saying, they were troubled at what it was to be.

And one came and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye cast into prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.

Then the centurion went with the servants, and took them, not by force: for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them

And said, Have we not earnestly commanded you that ye should not teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and will bring this man’s blood upon us.

And Peter answered and the apostles, and said: One must obey God more than men.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged on the wood.

Whom God hath exalted by his right hand to be a prince and a saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins unto Israel.

And we are his witnesses concerning these words, and the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

And when they heard it, it went through their hearts, and they thought to kill them.

And there arose in the council a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a scribe, well kept in the sight of all the people, and bade the apostles go forth a little

And said unto them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves of these men, what ye ought to do.

Before these days Theudas stood pretending to be something, and there were hanging upon him a number of men about four hundred: he is slain, and all that fell to him are scattered and destroyed.

After these things arose Judas of Galilee in the days of the reckoning, and made much people reproach him: and he also perished, and all that fell to him were scattered.

And now I say unto you, Depart from these men, and let them go. If the counsel or the work be of men, it shall perish;

But if it be of God, ye cannot restrain it, lest ye be found fighting against God.

And they fell upon him, and called unto the apostles, and nudged them, and commanded them that they should not speak in the name of JEsu, and sent them away.

And they departed gladly from the presence of the council, because they had been worthy to suffer reproach for his name’s sake;

And ceased not all the days in the temple, and in every house, to teach and to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Acts)
Chapter 6
Order of the almoners. The charge of Stephen.

Now in the days when the disciples were many, there arose a murmuring among the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were overlooked in the daily ministration.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together, and said: It is not fit that we should forbear the word of God, and serve at meat.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye among you for seven men of good report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint unto this need.

But let us continue in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.

And the speech pleased all the multitude well, 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 Nicolaus the Jew of Antioch.

These they set before the apostles, and prayed, and laid their hands on them.

And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples became very great in Jerusalem. And many priests also became obedient to the faith.
(Epistle on the second day of Christmas, or the day of Stephen the martyr.) 8. And Stephen, being full of faith and power, did wonders and great signs among the people.

Then arose certain of the school called the Libertines, and the Cyrenians, and the Alexanderians, and those that were of Cilicia and Asia, and consulted with Stephen.

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit whereby he spake.

Then judged they certain men, saying: We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.

And moved the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came and took him, and brought him before the council;

And they set up false witnesses, saying: This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and against the law.

For we have heard him say, Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses gave us.

And they looked upon him, all they that sat in the council, and saw his face as the face of an
angel.
(Acts)
Chapter 7
Stephen’s sermon, torture and death.

And the high priest said, Is it so?

And he said, Brethren and fathers, hear me. God of glory appeared unto Abraham our father, while he was yet in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

And he said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy friendship, and go into a land which I will shew thee.

And he went out of the country of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Haran. And from thence, when his father was dead, he brought him over into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

And he gave him no inheritance in it, neither a foot wide: and he promised him that he would give it to him to possess, and to his seed after him, when he had no child.

But God said thus, Thy seed shall be a stranger in a strange land, and they shall make him servant, and do evil four hundred years.

And the people whom they shall serve will I judge, said God; and afterward they shall go forth and serve me in this place.

And gave him the covenant of circumcision. And he begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve archfathers.

And the fathers envied Joseph, and sold him into Egypt. But God was with him 10. And delivered him out of all his affliction, and gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt: and he made him ruler over Egypt, and over all his house.

And there came a time of trouble upon all the land of Egypt, and upon Canaan, and a great tribulation; and our fathers found no meat.

And Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, and sent forth our fathers the first time.

And the second time Joseph was known of his brethren, and Pharaoh Joseph’s family was made manifest.

And Joseph sent and fetched Jacob