The stoning of Stephen, the first martyr: Lord do not hold this sin against them. Acts 7:59

The book of the acts of the apostles tells us the story of the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr of the church. Stephen was a prominent member of the Church, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and performed great signs and miracles; but his enemies out of envy paid false witnesses, and he was accused of blaspheming against Moses and God before the Sanhedrin, for which he was arrested.
In the Sanhedrin, Stephen gives a long speech, but knowing the intention of the judges, he accuses them of being enemies of the spirit: "You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" Acts 7:51.
After Stephen's speech, the Bible tells us how his martyrdom was:
"When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ´Look,´ he said, ´I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.´
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ´Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.´ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ´Lord, do not hold this sin against them.´ When he had said this, he fell asleep." Acts 7:54-60.

Stephen's martyrdom is a reminder of the words of Jesus against social oppression: "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it" Matthew 11:12. The fight between good and evil is eternal.
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