As the priests and rulers saw the power that attended the preaching of Stephen, they were filled with bitter hatred. Instead of yielding to the evidence that he presented, they determined to silence his voice by putting him to death. On several occasions they had bribed the Roman authorities to pass over without comment instances where the Jews had taken the law into their own hands, and had tried, condemned, and executed prisoners in accordance with their national custom. The enemies of Stephen did not doubt that they could again pursue such a course without danger to themselves. They determined to risk the consequences, and therefore seized Stephen, and brought him before the Sanhedrin council for trial.

Da præsterne og rådsherrerne så den kraft, der var over Stefanus´ forkyndelse, blev de fyldt af bittert had. I stedet for at indrømme rigtigheden af det vidnesbyrd, han aflagde, besluttede de at få ham til at tie ved at lade ham henrette. Ved flere anledninger havde de bestukket de romerske myndigheder til at gå forbi uden kommentarer i situationer hvor jøderne havde taget loven i deres egne hænder, og havde prøvet at fordømme og eksekvere fanger efter deres nationale sædvane. Stefanus´ fjender betvivlede ikke at de kunne gøre dette, uden at de selv kom i fare. De besluttede sig for at løbe risikoen, og stævnede derfor Stefanus, og bragte ham frem for Sanhedrinrådet for at prøve.