First Christian martyr. Spoke so courageously and clearly that members of the sophisticated Sanhedrin lost all control. In a fury they rushed at Stephen and stoned him to death. Began his public service for Christ when the apostles chose him to make sure that Greek-speaking widows got their fair share of food. He did far more than administrate charity. God gave him the power to do miracles and to speak convincingly to other Greek-speaking Jews. Stephan angered the religious establishment for some of the same reasons Jesus did. At his trial he presented his case loud and clear. He recast the history of Israel as the story of God saving his people in spite of their stubborn resistance.