In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. (niv)
I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. (niv)
Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. (niv)
Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen( as it was called)— Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia— who began to argue with Stephen.But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. (niv)
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.All those who heard him were astonished and asked,“ Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, (niv)
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. (niv)
So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God- fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. (niv)
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said,“ The Lord rebuke you!” (niv)
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (niv)