Stephen Stands Firm

Stephen was full of faith and power, and great wonders and signs were done among the people through him. Men from several synagogues began arguing with him, but they could not stand against the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

Then some men were secretly persuaded to make false claims. People, elders, and scribes were stirred up. They seized Stephen and brought him before the council. False witnesses accused him of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God, and against the holy place, the law, and the customs Moses had delivered.

Everyone in the council fixed their eyes on Stephen and saw his face like the face of an angel. Later, when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand.

They shouted loudly, covered their ears, and rushed at Stephen together. They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. As he was being killed, Stephen asked the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit and prayed that this sin would not be held against them.

Then Stephen died. Saul agreed with his death. That day a great persecution broke out against the assembly in Jerusalem, and believers were scattered through Judea and Samaria, while the apostles remained in Jerusalem. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. Saul kept attacking the assembly, entering houses and dragging off men and women to prison.