Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity, was among the first group of seven men designated as deacons in the Christian church, assigned to taking care of widows in the church community. He was a gifted evangelist and preached the Gospel in Jerusalem. He was tried by the Sanhedrin for blasphemy against God and Moses and for speaking against the Law. He was stoned to death by a mob which Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul, had encouraged. Stephen's dying words were, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."
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