The priests and rulers who witnessed the wonderful manifestation of the power that attended the ministration of Stephen, were filled with bitter hatred. Instead of yielding to the weight of evidence he presented, they determined to silence his voice by putting him to death. They had on several occasions bribed the Roman authorities to pass over without comment instances where the Jews had taken the law into their own hands, and tried, condemned, and executed prisoners according to their national custom. The enemies of Stephen did not doubt that they could pursue such a course without danger to themselves. They determined to risk the consequences at all events, and they therefore seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrim council for trial.{LP 16.1}

Præsterne og herskerne som var vidne til denne forunderlige manifestation af den kraft, som fulgte Stefanus’ forkyndergerning blev fyldt med bitter had. I stedet for at give efter for vægten af de beviser han kom med, besluttede de at fortie hans stemme, ved at lægge ham i døden. Ved flere anledninger havde de bestukket de romerske myndigheder til at forbigå situationer, hvor jøderne havde taget loven i deres egne hænder, og romerne ikke bemærker det, og jøderne prøvede, fordømte og eksekverede fanger efter deres nationale skik. Stefanus’ fjender betvivlede ikke at de kunne gøre sådan, uden at bringe sig selv i fare. De besluttede at risikere konsekvenserne for alt der skete, og de arresterede Stefanus og bragte ham for Sanhedrims råd for retsforfølgelse.