Acts of the Apostles 7
…But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into Heaven and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
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Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
“Christ Prayed for those who Crucified Him: ‘Father, count not this sin against them; they know not what they do.’ Archdeacon Stephen Prayed for those who stoned him so that the Lord would not judge this sin against them. And so we, if we wish to retain Grace, must Pray for our enemies. If you do not find pity on a sinner who will suffer in flames, then you do not carry the Grace of the Holy Spirit, but rather an evil spirit; and while you yet live, you must free yourself from his clutches through repentance.” – Saint Silouan the Athonite