How were the deaths of Jesus and Stephen alike?

Answer 1

Another answer from our community:

They were accused falsely by their enemies

They did not curse their enemies but blessed them instead

They set and example for the future martyrs

Answer 2

Some scholars consider the scene involving Stephen's trial and death as significant, not only because Stephen is the first Christian martyr, but also because the death of Stephen in Acts matches so closely the death of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, by the same author. Both accounts speak of the Son of Man at the right hand of God (Luke 22:69; Acts 7:56); both have a prayer for the forgiveness of those who are effecting this execution ( Luke 23:34a; Acts 7:60); both have the dying figure commend his spirit heavenward (Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59).

In some ways, the most important difference in the trial stories is that the Jews said they could not sentence Jesus to death and therefore had to bring him to trial before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, whereas in the story of Stephen, the priests saw no reason to involve the Roman governor and were willing to have Stephen stoned to death on their own account. Of course, Jesus was sentenced under Roman law and was crucified, while Stephen was stoned to death, according to Jewish law.