Inspiring Example

of Stephen.  We first see Stephen in Acts 6:5.

[Act 6:5 KJV] 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

He is described in detail while most of the others are just named.

We see him again a few verses later:

[Act 6:8 KJV] 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

And then he suffered an experience, similar to Christ's in that he became a victim of false witnesses who accused him of blasphemy.  He gives an eloquent speech in Acts, chapter 7 of the history of the gospel from Abraham to Christ and then he throws down a challenge in verses 51-53 telling them that they are doing the same thing their forefathers had done in rejecting God's message.

Then Stephen has a beautiful experience in his last moments:

[Act 7:55-56 KJV] 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

This really sets the crowd, which included Saul (later becoming Paul), into violent mob behavior that resulted in Stephen's death by stoning.

[Act 7:59-60 KJV] 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon [God], and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Praying for the mob's forgiveness with his last breath.  Not concerned with his earthly life but pleading for his persecutors' eternal lives.  A hero of the faith.