When I read about out the stoning of the apostle Stephen in scripture,  It fills me with emotion as I empathize with him in his pain. Imagine taking a stand for Christ even in the face of death, and as death becomes certain, having your resolve harden even further. In his final moments, as his blood poured and bruises formed, Stephen still had love for the people he was preaching to. I can only pray that I would have similar love and resolve in the face of violent death as Stephen did.