From Fox’s Book of Martyrs: History of Christian Martyrs to the First General Persecutions under Nero
In the spring after Christ’s crucifixion and ascension, at Passover, Stephen was next to be martyred. His faithful preaching of the good news to Christ’s betrayers and murderers gave them reason enough to kill him.
The crowd’s anger towards Stephen was so intense that they threw him out of the city and stoned him to death. This set off a terrific persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and believers were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. All, that is, but the apostles.
About two thousand Christians, including Nicanor and six other deacons, were martyred during the persecution that arose out of Stephen’s death.
