When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them,

But a Pharisee whose name was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the council and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time.

All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel.

Paul looked directly at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day.”

Then when Paul noticed that part of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, he shouted out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead!”

So now you and the council request the commanding officer to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine his case by conducting a more thorough inquiry. We are ready to kill him before he comes near this place.”