Thematic Bible: In persecuting stephen
Thematic Bible
religious Intolerance » The jewish leaders » In persecuting stephen
(Saul quite approved of his murder.) That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone, with the exception of the apostles, was scattered over Judaea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him, but Saul made havoc of the church by entering one house after another, dragging off men and women, and consigning them to prison.
Some of those who belonged to the so-called synagogue of the Libyans, the Cyrenians, and the Alexandrians, as well as to that of the Cilicians and Asiatics, started a dispute with Stephen, but they could not meet the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. They then instigated people to say, "We have heard him talking blasphemy against Moses and God." read more.
In this way they excited the people, the elders, and the scribes, who rushed on him, dragged him away, and took him before the Sanhedrin. They also brought forward false witnesses to say, "This fellow is never done talking against this holy Place and the Law! Why, we have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this Place and change the customs handed down to us by Moses!" Then all who were seated in the Sanhedrin fixed their eyes on him, and saw that his face shone like the face of an angel.
In this way they excited the people, the elders, and the scribes, who rushed on him, dragged him away, and took him before the Sanhedrin. They also brought forward false witnesses to say, "This fellow is never done talking against this holy Place and the Law! Why, we have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this Place and change the customs handed down to us by Moses!" Then all who were seated in the Sanhedrin fixed their eyes on him, and saw that his face shone like the face of an angel.
With a loud shriek they shut their ears and rushed at him like one man. Putting him outside the city, they proceeded to stone him (the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a youth called Saul). So they stoned Stephen, who called on the Lord, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"