At this the priests and rulers were beside themselves with anger. They were more like wild beasts of prey than like human beings. They rushed upon Stephen, gnashing their teeth. But he was not intimidated; he had expected this. His face was calm, and shone with an angelic light. The infuriated priests and the excited mob had no terrors for him. The scene about him faded from his vision; the gates of Heaven were ajar, and Stephen, looking in, saw the glory of the courts of God, and Christ, as if just risen from his throne, standing ready to sustain his servant, who was about to suffer martyrdom for his name. When Stephen proclaimed the glorious scene opened before him, it was more than his persecutors could endure. They stopped their ears, that they might not hear his words, and uttering loud cries ran furiously upon him with one accord. “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” The witnesses who had accused him were required to cast the first stones. These persons laid down their clothes at the feet of Saul, who had taken an active part in the disputation, and had consented to the prisoner’s death.{LP 19.1}

Heri var præsterne og herskerne ude af dem selv af vrede. De blev værre end vilde dyr efter bytte, end at være som mennesker. De slæbte Stefanus, og skar tænder. Men han blev ikke skræmt, dette havde han forventet. Hans ansigt var roligt, og skinnede af englenes lys. De oprevede præster og den opildnede folkehob havde ingen rædsel for ham. Sceneriet om ham svandt bort fra hans synsfelt, himlens porte stod på vidt gab, og Stefanus, så ind, s Guds herlighed og sale, og Kristus, som han lige var rejst fra sin trone, stod parat til at støtte sin tjener, som var ved at lede mardyrdom for hans navn. Da Stefanus proklamerede det herlige scenerri der åbnede sig for ham, var mere end hvad hans forfølgere kunne klare. De lukkede for deres ørere, så de ikke hører hans ord, og fór med høje råb på ham i en samklang. "Så stenede de Stefanus, medens han bad og sagde: »Herre Jesus, tag imod min ånd!« Og han faldt på knæ og råbte ned høj røst: »Herre, tilregn dem ikke denne synd!« Og da han havde sagt dette, sov han hen." De vidner som havde anklaget ham, blev bedt om at kaste de første sten. Disse personer lagde deres klæder ned for fødderne af Saulus, som havde taget aktiv del i diskussionen, og indvilgede i fangens død.