THE CONVERSION OF SAUL

The stoning of Stephen is a significant event recorded in the Book of Acts in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Stephen was one of the seven men chosen by the apostles to be a deacon in the early Christian church. He was described as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and was known for performing miracles and preaching about Jesus Christ.

According to Acts 6-7, Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, on charges of blasphemy against Moses and God. Stephen defended himself by giving a long speech, recounting the history of Israel and criticizing the religious leaders for rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. He accused them of being stiff-necked and resisting the Holy Spirit.

This enraged the members of the Sanhedrin, and they dragged Stephen outside the city and stoned him to death. As he was being stoned, Stephen prayed to Jesus, asking for forgiveness for his attackers and entrusting his spirit to him.

The stoning of Stephen is significant for several reasons. It is considered the first Christian martyrdom, and Stephen is often called the proto-martyr. His death was a turning point in the early Christian church, as it marked the beginning of a period of intense persecution against the followers of Jesus. The stoning also shows the intense hostility that existed between the early Christians and the Jewish religious leaders, which would continue to play a role in the development of the Christian faith.