Acts 7:59-8:3

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁵⁹ While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”^{(A) 60} Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.^[a](B) 8 ¹ And Saul approved of their killing him.

Saul Persecutes the Church

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.^{(C) 2} Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him.^{(D) 3} But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.^(E)