So Jacob went down to Egypt and died there, along with our ancestors,

“Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense that I now make to you.”

Then a famine occurred throughout Egypt and Canaan, causing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food.

Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him aside and turned back to Egypt in their hearts,

“You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did!

So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?

So he replied, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,

Our ancestors received possession of it and brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors, until the time of David.

Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold long ago the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become!