The Martyrdom of Stephen

In Jerusalem, the widows of the Hellenists are being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The apostles have seven men chosen who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom; among them is Stephen, “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” Full of grace and power, he performs great wonders. His opponents, unable to stand against his wisdom, pay off false witnesses and bring him before the Sanhedrin, where his face looks “like the face of an angel.” Stephen retraces the history of Israel, from Abraham through Joseph and Moses to the temple built by Solomon, and concludes: “You stiff-necked people… you always resist the Holy Spirit.” In a fury, they gnash their teeth at him. But Stephen sees the heavens opened and “the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” They drag him out of the city and stone him; the witnesses lay their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. On his knees, Stephen cries out: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Then he falls asleep.