(a) What happened to Stephen after he had referred to the Jewish Council as stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears?
(b) Of what significance was this episode to the Early Church?
(a) In his defence before the Jewish council, Stephen went on to say that they also resisted the Holy Spirit because their fathers persecuted the prophets and they too were doing same. Their fathers persecuted those who foretold the coming of the righteous one whom they had murdered. They had received the law of God which they had not kept. This accusation angered them, so they ground their teeth against Stephen. But soon, Stephen gazed into heaven and announced that he saw Jesus sitting at the right, hand of God. Because of this, they could no longer bear it; they rushed upon him and dragged him out of the city. As they were stoning him, he prayed to God for their forgiveness, for they did not know what they were doing. While this was going on, Saul, who later became Paul, bore witness. He kept their clothes and gave his approval to it all.
(b) Stephen's trial was of significance to the early church in the following ways:
(i) It led to the evangelisation outside Jerusalem.
(ii) Stephen's death led to great persecution in Jerusalem.
(iii) The stoning of Stephen helped to introduce Saul who later became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles.
(iv) Saul led the persecution of the church.
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