The Beginning Of A Great Persecution Against The Church

Hello! and happy good Tuesday to all of us, GUYS.  Our "food for the soul" today:

THE GOOD NEWS (12 April 2016)

"As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed saying: 'LORD JESUS, receive my spirit.'  Then he knelt down and said in a loud voice: 'LORD, do not hold this sin against them.'  And when he had said this, he died.

Saul was there, approving his murder.  This was the beginning of a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem.  All, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria.  Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.  Saul meanwhile was trying to destroy the Church; he entered house after house and dragged off men and women and had them put in jail." - Acts 7:59-60; 8:1-3 

Saul of Tarsus, Before Conversion

(The death of Stephen leads to a resurrection.  Instead of Stephen, the Church will have a new apostle in Saul who, after his conversion, will become "St. Paul."  So GOD heard the prayer of Stephen for his murderers.

The illegal execution of Stephen unleashes the persecution against the Hellenists Christians.  The apostles and others in the Hebrew group were not persecuted, because they were considered loyal to the Jewish religion and traditions.)

Christian Persecution, Early Church