34 Therefore behold I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you will put to death and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:  35 That upon you may come all the just blood that hath been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you killed between the temple and the altar.

[35] "That upon you may come": Not that they should suffer more than their own sins justly deserved; but that the justice of God should now fall upon them with such a final vengeance, once for all, as might comprise all the different kinds of judgments and punishments, that had at any time before been inflicted for the shedding of just blood.

 36 Amen I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.  37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered together thy children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldest not?  38 Behold, your house shall be left to you, desolate.  39 For I say to you, you shall not see me henceforth till you say: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord

Steven, one of the seven Deacons, chosen by the Apostles amongst the most pious and holy disciples, to help them, received them mission to organize the meals where the poor were fed in common. St Steven was renowned for his virtues and worked such great signs and wonders among the people that the Jews from five different synagogues became alarmed and summoned him before the Sanhedrin. The Jews stoned this holy Deacon, who invoked our Lord, saying: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit... Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." His name is inscribed in the canon of the Mass.