The Stoning of Stephen

54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious(A) and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,(B) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.(C) 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open(D) and the Son of Man(E) standing at the right hand of God.”

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city(F) and began to stone him.(G) Meanwhile, the witnesses(H) laid their coats(I) at the feet of a young man named Saul.(J)

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”(K) 60 Then he fell on his knees(L) and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”(M) When he had said this, he fell asleep.(N)

And Saul(O) approved of their killing him.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered(P) throughout Judea and Samaria.(Q)

54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.[a] 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.[b]

59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

Persecution Scatters the Believers

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.

Footnotes

  1. 7:54 Greek they were grinding their teeth against him.
  2. 7:58 Saul is later called Paul; see 13:9.

54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.