Acts 7:51–8:1

⁵¹“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.^{* 52}Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers.^{* 53}You are the ones who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.”^*

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen.^{c 55}But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.^{* 56}“Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”^{* 57}But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. ⁵⁸Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.^{* 59}While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”^{* 60}Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.^d*

⁸And Saul approved of their killing him.

Saul Persecutes the Church

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.^*