Acts 7

"Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" (v60). Stephen, the first post-Resurrection martyr, was a deacon of the early church. He was full of faith and the Spirit, grace and power (ch 6), and his mighty preaching provoked his death. Stephen knew the scriptures well, and he simply retold the great story of God's relationship with Israel. He fearlessly pointed out that rejecting Jesus was the same as persecuting the ancient prophets - "resisting the Holy Spirit".

Along with courage, Stephen had a compassionate heart. He asked God to show mercy to his killers, instead of judgment.