Until the Sanhedrin unleashed their hatred of Jesus onto Stephen, by stoning him to death, Jerusalem was peaceful with the people who had believed in Jesus.  There may have been a real sense of guilt about the public condemnation of Jesus (Acts 2:36-37), and the new church was certainly popular with the Jews (Acts 2:47).  Miracles, done by the apostles, enhanced that reputation making the Sanhedrin Council afraid of being hostile to the Christians (Acts 5:26).

But, as with Jesus, public adoration turned to hatred so quickly.  The underlying resentment of the religious leaders who sentenced Jesus to death boiled over against Stephen, who spoke powerfully and performed amazing miracles like Jesus did (Acts 6:8-11).  When he was stoned to death, all restraint disappeared.  There was such persecution, probably from family, neighbours and work colleagues as well as officials, that many new believers hurriedly moved out of Jerusalem.  They went south into Judea and north into Samaria – where Jesus had already planned that they would be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).

Saul was on the move too.  He wanted to rid Jerusalem of the believers.  He even pursued them to the towns they thought would be safe havens.  The example of his spiritual superiors in stoning Stephen, gave him permission to excel in destroying the Christians' faith.  He put believers in prison and persecuted some to death (Acts 22:4) while also advancing his own reputation as a zealous and holy man.  Later, he accepted that he was wrong (Acts 26:9-11): he became a Christian with a new name, Paul.

Today's world is not much different.  The attitude of community officials towards believers will generally influence the way the community treats the church.  That is one of the reasons why Paul says that we should pray for them – '… that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.' (1 Timothy 2:1-4).  The peaceful times are not for the believers to indulge themselves, but to evangelise.  The times of persecution will scatter God's people and refine the church.  Both are under the Lord's command, as was the crucifixion of Jesus and the stoning of Stephen.  He works in all things so that the gospel's message of the love and grace of Christ may be known and received by many people (Romans 8:28).