Study Desk

They said, "The jail was closed and locked, and the guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened the doors, the jail was empty!"

Then the captain and his men went out and brought the apostles back. But the soldiers did not use force, because they were afraid the people would stone them to death.

saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in that name. But look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying to make us responsible for this man's death."

You killed Jesus by hanging him on a cross. But God, the God of our ancestors, raised Jesus up from the dead!

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the meeting. He was a teacher of the law, and all the people respected him. He ordered the apostles to leave the meeting for a little while.

Remember when Theudas appeared? He said he was a great man, and about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed, and all his followers were scattered; they were able to do nothing.

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You might even be fighting against God himself!" The leaders agreed with what Gamaliel said.

The number of followers was growing. But during this same time, the Greek-speaking followers had an argument with the other followers. The Greek-speaking widows were not getting their share of the food that was given out every day.

But some people were against him. They belonged to the synagogue of Free Men (as it was called), which included people from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia. They all came and argued with Stephen.

But the Spirit was helping him to speak with wisdom, and his words were so strong that they could not argue with him.

God did not give Abraham any of this land, not even a foot of it. But God promised that he would give this land to him and his descendants, even before Abraham had a child.

But I will punish the nation where they are slaves. Then your descendants will leave that land and will worship me in this place.'

"Jacob's sons became jealous of Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him

But when Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent his sons there. This was their first trip to Egypt.

Moses thought his own people would understand that God was using him to save them, but they did not.

"But our ancestors did not want to obey Moses. They rejected him and wanted to go back to Egypt.

They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. Moses led us out of Egypt, but we don't know what has happened to him.'

But God turned against them and did not try to stop them from worshiping the sun, moon, and stars. This is what is written in the book of the prophets: God says, ‘People of Israel, you did not bring me sacrifices and offerings while you traveled in the desert for forty years.

But Solomon was the one who built the Temple.

"But the Most High does not live in houses that people build with their hands. As the prophet says: