Acts 6:8–15
8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signsu among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrenev and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Ciliciaw and Asiax—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.y
11 Then they secretlyz persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”a
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.b 13 They produced false witnesses,c who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy placed and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this placee and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”f
15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedring looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 7:51–60
51 “You stiff-necked people!t Your heartsu and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?v They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered himw—53 you who have received the law that was given through angelsx but have not obeyed it.”
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furiousy and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,z looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.a 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven openb and the Son of Manc standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the cityd and began to stone him.e Meanwhile, the witnessesf laid their coatsg at the feet of a young man named Saul.h
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”i 60 Then he fell on his kneesj and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”k When he had said this, he fell asleep.l