Stephen, the first martyr
Stephen, full of grace and power, was accused of speaking against the temple and the Law. After tracing Israel's history before the council, he saw the heavens opened and was stoned to death, praying for his killers. A young man named Saul approved.
He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:60 (World English Bible)
Stephen's speech showed that God had met his people long before there was a temple, and that Israel had always resisted the prophets God sent. Looking up, he saw “the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). Like Jesus on the cross, he committed his spirit to the Lord and asked forgiveness for those killing him.
His death set off a great persecution that scattered the believers through Judea and Samaria, carrying the gospel with them (Acts 8:1, 4).
Places
Dating notes
Ussher: autumn AD 33. Many historians date Stephen's death a year or two later, about AD 34–35, allowing more time for the growth described in Acts 2–6. The month shown is estimated from the order of events in Acts, so that events of the same year appear in sequence.