But the Spirit gave Stephen such wisdom that when he spoke, they could not refute him.

Laban and Bethuel answered, "Since this matter comes from the LORD, it is not for us to make a decision.

In the past, even when Saul was still our king, you led the people of Israel in battle, and the LORD promised you that you would lead his people and be their ruler."

"Do not attack your own relatives, the people of Israel. Go home, all of you. What has happened is my will." They all obeyed the LORD's command and went back home.

If God decided to do nothing at all, no one could criticize him. If he hid his face, we would be helpless.

I am God and always will be. No one can escape from my power; no one can change what I do."

From the beginning I predicted the outcome; long ago I foretold what would happen. I said that my plans would never fail, that I would do everything I intended to do.

He looks on the people of the earth as nothing; angels in heaven and people on earth are under his control. No one can oppose his will or question what he does.

And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it.

because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say.

For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

"The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet begun to rule, but who will be given authority to rule as kings for one hour with the beast.

They will fight against the Lamb; but the Lamb, together with his called, chosen, and faithful followers, will defeat them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings."

"How stubborn you are!" Stephen went on to say. "How heathen your hearts, how deaf you are to God's message! You are just like your ancestors: you too have always resisted the Holy Spirit!

"Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you persecute," the voice said.

The shouting became louder, and some of the teachers of the Law who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly: "We cannot find a thing wrong with this man! Perhaps a spirit or an angel really did speak to him!"

So Moses and Aaron went to the king and said to him, "The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says, 'How much longer will you refuse to submit to me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

There will be so many that they will completely cover the ground. They will eat everything that the hail did not destroy, even the trees that are left.

The king's officials said to him, "How long is this man going to give us trouble? Let the Israelite men go, so that they can worship the LORD their God. Don't you realize that Egypt is ruined?"

Whom do you think you have been insulting and ridiculing? You have been disrespectful to me, the holy God of Israel.

That is the fate of those who shake their fists at God and defy the Almighty.

(SEE 15:26)

Are you as strong as I am? Can your voice thunder as loud as mine?

Look at those who are proud; pour out your anger and humble them.

Bury them all in the ground; bind them in the world of the dead.

Does a clay pot dare argue with its maker, a pot that is like all the others? Does the clay ask the potter what he is doing? Does the pot complain that its maker has no skill?

Or do we want to make the Lord jealous? Do we think that we are stronger than he?