So also Stephen had already put on the appearance of an angel, although they were none other than his human knees which bent beneath the stoning.

With this strength of patience, Esaias is cut asunder, and ceases not to speak concerning the Lord; Stephen is stoned, and prays for pardon to his foes. Oh, happy also he who met all the violence of the devil by the exertion of every species of patience! -whom neither the driving away of his cattle nor those riches of his in sheep, nor…

Thus first Stephen, pressing on His footsteps, suffered martyrdom, being apprehended in Jerusalem by the transgressors, and being brought before the council, he was stoned, and glorified for the name of Christ, praying with the words, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

Of those who have a share in virtue, some possess it perfectly and others imperfectly. Hence it is said of Stephen that he was selected because he was full of faith and the Spirit, as every believer is not full of faith. Someone upon whom Peter looked is said to "have faith" but not to be full of faith.

"And devout men," it says, "carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him." If they were "devout," why did they "make great lamentation over him?" They were not yet perfect. The man was gracious and amiable: this also shows that they were men - not their fear alone, but their grief and lamentation. Who would not…

Whence, I pray you, did that grace bloom upon the countenance of Stephen? The writer gives him this report above, that he was "full of faith." For it is possible to have a grace that does not consist in works of healing: "For to one is given the grace of the Spirit in such and such wise." But here, it seems to me, it says that he was…

He says that their frenzy and momentum rose again and that they were not only roused against themselves but also would soon debate and sophisticate with another crowd, perhaps Libertines, and Alexandrians, and Cyrenaicans, and Cilicians, and Asians. And just as the discussion proceeds through another crowd, so likewise the accusation…

"Now they who had been dispersed by the persecution that arose," etc. They who had been dispersed after Stephen's passion went about as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none but the Jews only. But there were nonetheless some among them who, when they were entered into Antioch, spoke words of preaching to the…

"And when the blood of Stephen was being shed." He reminded them of one cruel murder, when Stephen was reproving them at that time, and they could not endure it.