7 ⁵⁴ This touched them on the raw and they ground their teeth with fury. 7 ⁵⁵ But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, and gazing intently up to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand. 7 ⁵⁶ 'Look,' he said, 'there is a rift in the sky; I can see the Son of Man standing at God's right hand!' 7 ⁵⁷ At this they gave a great shout and stopped their ears. Then they made one rush at him and, 7 ⁵⁸ flinging him out of the city, set about stoning him. The witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 7 ⁵⁹ So they stoned Stephen, and as they did so, he called out, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' 7 ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried aloud, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them', and with that he died. - Saul Persecutes the Church  Ac.8.1-3 (Jerusalem)

8 ¹ And Saul was among those who approved of his murder.

THIS WAS THE BEGINNING of a time of violent persecution for the church in Jerusalem; and all except the apostles were scattered over the country districts of Judaea and Samaria.