And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
All Commentaries on Acts 7:58 Go To Acts 7
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Invoking. See with what arms St. Stephen defended himself against the fury of his enemies. He puts on charity for a breast-plate, and by that came off victorious. By his love of God, he resisted the enraged Jews; by the love he bore his neighbour, he prayed for those that stoned him. Through charity, he admonished them of their errors, in order to their amendment; through charity, he besought the divine goodness not to punish their crimes against him. Leaning on charity, he overcame the cruelty of Saul, and merited to have him a companion in heaven, who had been his chief persecutor on earth. (St. Fulgent us, Serm. de S. Steph.)
We here again see the powerful intercession of the saints; "for" says St. Augustine, "if Stephen had not thus prayed, the Church would not have to glory in a St. Paul.
