Stephen stands before an unjust court. The rulers of Israel are not seeking righteousness. Those claiming to be zealous for Moses and the Law set up men to bear false witness and accuse Stephen of thrusting Moses and the Law aside.  But it is they that have thrust Moses and the Law aside. The tables are turned. Leading representatives of Israel find themselves indicted. Israel is on trial. In prophetic style, Stephen serves as a messenger of God indicting Israel for patterns of rejection that culminated in the rejection of the one and only truly Righteous One—Christ Jesus.