I can hardly wait to speak. I can't hold back the words.

The spirit of the LORD will give him wisdom and the knowledge and skill to rule his people. He will know the LORD's will and honor him,

and find pleasure in obeying him. He will not judge by appearance or hearsay;

The LORD says, "Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins!

Listen, Jeremiah! Everyone in this land---the kings of Judah, the officials, the priests, and the people---will be against you. But today I am giving you the strength to resist them; you will be like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. They will not defeat you, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken."

Your anger against them burns in me too, LORD, and I can't hold it in any longer." Then the LORD said to me, "Pour out my anger on the children in the streets and on the gatherings of the young people. Husbands and wives will be taken away, and even the very old will not be spared.

To this the LORD replied, "If you return, I will take you back, and you will be my servant again. If instead of talking nonsense you proclaim a worthwhile message, you will be my prophet again. The people will come back to you, and you will not need to go to them.

I will rescue you from the power of wicked and violent people. I, the LORD, have spoken."

But when I say, "I will forget the LORD and no longer speak in his name," then your message is like a fire burning deep within me. I try my best to hold it in, but can no longer keep it back.

The power of the LORD came on me with great force, and as his spirit carried me off, I felt bitter and angry.

He wasn't like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority.

James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee (Jesus gave them the name Boanerges, which means "Men of Thunder");

Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, answered them, "Leaders of the people and elders:

then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this man stands here before you completely well through the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth---whom you crucified and whom God raised from death.

Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us."

As the members of the Council listened to Stephen, they became furious and ground their teeth at him in anger.

"Look!" he said. "I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!"

Then Saul---also known as Paul---was filled with the Holy Spirit; he looked straight at the magician

The Lord's hand will come down on you now; you will be blind and will not see the light of day for a time." At once Elymas felt a dark mist cover his eyes, and he walked around trying to find someone to lead him by the hand.

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul gave his whole time to preaching the message, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.

When they opposed him and said evil things about him, he protested by shaking the dust from his clothes and saying to them, "If you are lost, you yourselves must take the blame for it! I am not responsible. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, "Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up,

So Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching the people the word of God.

and my teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words of human wisdom, but with convincing proof of the power of God's Spirit.

We have not received this world's spirit; instead, we have received the Spirit sent by God, so that we may know all that God has given us.

So then, we do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual truths to those who have the Spirit.

The LORD says, "Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins!

"Mortal man," he said, "point out to Jerusalem what disgusting things she has done.

"Are you ready to pass sentence on them, mortal man? Then do so. Remind them of the disgusting things their ancestors did.

"Mortal man," he said, "are you ready to judge the city that is full of murderers? Make clear to her all the disgusting things she has done.

And the LORD continued, "Mortal man, tell the people of Israel about the Temple, and let them study its plan. Make them ashamed of their sinful actions.

When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, "You snakes---who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send?

And don't think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham!

I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.

"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!

Was there any prophet that your ancestors did not persecute? They killed God's messengers, who long ago announced the coming of his righteous Servant. And now you have betrayed and murdered him.