Acts 26:26

²“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you today concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews, ³especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

¹Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. ²Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. ⁴They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

⁵Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. ⁶When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? ⁸How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” ¹²They were all amazed and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

¹⁶saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it. ¹⁷But so that this spreads no further among the people, let’s threaten them, that from now on they don’t speak to anyone in this name.” ¹⁸They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, ²⁰for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”

²¹When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done.

²²Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

¹⁸and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody. ¹⁹But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said, ²⁰“Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

²¹When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²²But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported, ²³“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

²⁴Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. ²⁵One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.” ²⁶Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

²⁷When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, ²⁸saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. ³¹God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. ³²We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them. ³⁴But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. ³⁵He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. ³⁶For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. ³⁸Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. ³⁹But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”

⁴⁰They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

⁴²Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.

²⁹They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. ³¹When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

³²As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross. ³³When they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull,” ³⁴they gave him sour wine^[+] to drink mixed with gall.^[+] When he had tasted it, he would not drink. ³⁵When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,^36[+] and they sat and watched him there. ³⁷They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

³⁸Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.

³⁹Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads ⁴⁰and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”

⁴¹Likewise the chief priests also mocking with the scribes, the Pharisees,^[+] and the elders, said, ⁴²“He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. ⁴³He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.

⁴⁵Now from the sixth hour^[+] there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.^46[+] About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima^[+] sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

⁴⁷Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”

⁴⁸Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink. ⁴⁹The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”

⁵⁰Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.

⁵¹Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. ⁵²The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; ⁵³and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.

⁵⁴Now the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done, were terrified, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

²⁰Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers won’t be hidden any more, but your eyes will see your teachers;

⁵But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”