Saturday in Christmas

1Verse 1. At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD: 2Verse 2. “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship there. Do not omit a word. 3Verse 3. Perhaps they will listen and turn— each from his evil way of life— so that I may relent of the disaster I am planning to bring upon them because of the evil of their deeds. 4Verse 4. And you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘If you do not listen to Me and walk in My law, which I have set before you, 5Verse 5. and if you do not listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent you again and again even though you did not listen, 6Verse 6. then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’” 7Verse 7. Now the priests and prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD, 8Verse 8. and as soon as he had finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people seized him, shouting, “You must surely die! 9Verse 9. How dare you prophesy in the name of the LORD that this house will become like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted!” And all the people assembled against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. 12Verse 12. But Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13Verse 13. So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, so that He might relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you. 14Verse 14. As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right. 15Verse 15. But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”

8Verse 8. Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9Verse 9. But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They disputed with Stephen, 10Verse 10. but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. 11Verse 11. Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.” 12Verse 12. So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin, 13Verse 13. where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14Verse 14. For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15Verse 15. All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Text not available in the Berean Standard Bible.