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Acts 26:2-3
“ I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
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Acts 2:1-12
When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them.Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven.When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.They were astounded and amazed, saying,“ Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language?Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome( both Jews and converts),Cretans and Arabs— we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.”They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another,“ What does this mean?”
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Matthew 27:29-54
They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him:“ Hail, king of the Jews!”Then they spat on him, took the staff, and kept hitting him on the head.After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced him to carry his cross.When they came to a place called Golgotha( which means Place of the Skull),they gave him wine mixed with gall to drink. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it.After crucifying him, they divided his clothes by casting lots.Then they sat down and were guarding him there.Above his head they put up the charge against him in writing: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.Then two criminals were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their headsand saying,“ You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him and said,“ He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.He trusts in God; let God rescue him now— if he takes pleasure in him! For he said,‘ I am the Son of God.’”In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him taunted him.From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land.About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice,“ Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is,“ My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”When some of those standing there heard this, they said,“ He’s calling for Elijah.”Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered him a drink.But the rest said,“ Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said,“ Truly this man was the Son of God!”
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Acts 5:18-42
So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,“ Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.”Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin— the full council of the Israelites— and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail; so they returned and reported,“ We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this.Someone came and reported to them,“ Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked,“ Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”Peter and the apostles replied,“ We must obey God rather than people.The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree.God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while.He said to them,“ Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men.Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing.After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered.So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail;but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
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Isaiah 30:20
The Lord will give you meager bread and water during oppression, but your Teacher will not hide any longer. Your eyes will see your Teacher,
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Acts 4:16-21
saying,“ What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign has been done through them, clear to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.”So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.Peter and John answered them,“ Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done.
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Acts 25:22
Agrippa said to Festus,“ I would like to hear the man myself.”“ Tomorrow you will hear him,” he replied.
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Matthew 26:5
“ Not during the festival,” they said,“ so there won’t be rioting among the people.”