When Stephen was killed for telling other people about you, I stood there to show that I agreed he should die. I even guarded the coats of those who were killing him.’
Saul had agreed that Stephen should die. On that day an attack began against the church in Jerusalem. The believers, except for the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
dragged him out of the city, and threw stones at him to kill him. The people who’d brought false charges against Stephen took off their coats and placed them at the feet of a young man named Saul.
‘I know that even though you live where Satan has his throne, you’re still faithful to me. You didn’t give up your faith even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city, where Satan lives.
They know that God’s commands are right, and that people who do wrong things like this deserve to die. But they continue to do those things anyway, and they even approve of others who do them.
That’s just what I was doing in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests, I put many of the Lord’s people in prison. When they were brought to trial, I cast my vote to have them killed.
This plan pleased everyone. They chose Stephen, a man who was full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. They also chose Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, who was a convert to the Jewish faith.