55But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked into heaven, saw God's glory, and Jesus in the position of authority that God gives. 56So Stephen said, "Look, I see heaven opened and the Son of Man in the position of authority that God has given him!" 57But the council members shouted and refused to listen. Then they rushed at Stephen with one purpose in mind, 58and after they had thrown him out of the city, they began to stone him to death. The witnesses left their coats with a young man named Saul. 59While council members were executing Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, welcome my spirit." 60Then he knelt down and shouted, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them." After he had said this, he died.
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