The Stoning of Stephen

These are some of the words of Stephen to the high priest and the counsel: Acts 7:51-53 "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."
This is such a sad fact. Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, longed for the people to come to repentance. He and the disciples went from town to town preaching the word of God. This angered the high priest and the counsel who feared losing control over the people. Above all, they wanted to be the only spiritual leaders and to keep the people under the bondage of the law and in the customs that Moses had taught.They set up false witnesses against Stephen who were told to lie and say he spoke blasphemous words against Moses and God. In the end, Stephen was stoned.
Acts 7:54-60 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. ⁵⁵But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this he fell asleep.
Did you catch that? He asked God to have mercy on his murderers! How humbling! Also, notice in the previous verses that the young man Saul, at whose feet Stephen's garments were laid, would later use the name Paul and would be one of the most devoted witnesses for Christ.
Lord, it is my prayer that You would touch hearts today for Your glory. They are many who are being persecuted for their obedience to You. Bless them and give them courage through Your Spirit. Amen