 Backdrop of the story now. New Living Translation is what I am reading from. Saul was one of the witnesses. And this of course is a witness to the death of Stephen. And he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day sweeping over the church in Jerusalem. And all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.