Stephen stands before Israel’s religious rulers, but instead of defending himself, he exposes their long history of rejecting God’s messengers. Abraham, Joseph and Moses show that God remained faithful while His people resisted Him, and Jesus is the promised offspring, ruler and redeemer they rejected. For Jew and non-Jew alike, the only hope is repentance and wholehearted faith in Jesus. Stephen is killed, and persecution follows. Yet scattered believers carry Jesus’ witness into Judea and Samaria, showing that persecution cannot overturn God’s saving purpose.