Stephen was questioned as to the truth of the charges against him, and took up his defense in a clear, thrilling voice that rang through the council hall. He proceeded to rehearse the history of the chosen people of God, in words that held the assembly spell-bound. He showed a thorough knowledge of the Jewish economy, and the spiritual interpretation of it now made manifest through Christ. He made plain his own loyalty to God and to the Jewish faith, while he showed that the law in which they trusted for salvation had not been able to preserve Israel from idolatry. He connected Jesus Christ with all the Jewish history. He referred to the building of the temple by Solomon, and to the words of both Solomon and Isaiah: “Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. What house will ye build me? saith the Lord; or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?” The place of God’s highest worship was in Heaven. {LP 17.3}

Stefanus blev betvivlet over for anklagernes sandhed imod ham, og tog hans forsvar op, med en klar og gysende stemme, som genlød gennem rådssalen. Han gav sig til at gennemgå Guds udvalgte folks historie i ord så forsamlingen blev tryllebundet. Han udviste et grundigt kendskab til den jødiske ceremoni, og den åndelige fortolkning af den, der nu manifesterede sig igennem Kristus. Han tydeliggjorde sin egen loyalitet mod Gud og den jødiske tro, Imedens han viste at den lov de satte stolede på efter frelse, ikke kunne bestykke Israel fra afgudsdyrkelse. Han forbandt Jesus Kristus med hele den jødiske historie. Han refererede til Salomons opbyggelse af templet, og til både Salomons og Esajas ord: "Dog, den Højeste bor ikke i huse." "Himlen er min trone og jorden mine fødders skammel. Hvad for et hus vil I bygge mig?" Stedet for Guds højeste tilbedelse var i Himlen.