Was the stoning of Stephen legal according to Roman law?

[TonyChanYT]

The Jews try to stone Jesus, John 8:

59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

John 10:

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him

If they had succeeded, the Roman authority would have investigated. The perpetrators would have been in trouble.

The Sanhedrin avoided possible investigation from the Roman authority by getting Pilate to sentence Jesus to death, John 18:

31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

Was the stoning of Stephen legal according to Roman law?

No.

The Historical Figure of Jesus by E. Sanders:

With one exception, only the prefect had the right to sentence anyone to death. Rome allowed the priests to post warning notices in the Temple, in both Greek and Latin, warning Gentiles to enter no further than a given point. Anyone who transgressed, even a Roman citizen, was subject to immediate execution, without the need to send the culprit to the prefect. Apart from this, the prefect's right to execute was not only exclusive but also absolute; he could execute even a Roman citizen, and he did not have to formulate a charge that would stand up in a court in Rome. In these outposts of empire, the prefect had to be able to do whatever he thought was necessary for the good of Rome, and this included the power to discipline the army.

They risked reprisals from the Roman authority and Stephen's sympathizers by executing Stephen. Neither happened. Stephen was a newcomer and a relative unknown. They stoned Stephen to death, but there was no mention of any follow-up investigation by the Romans.

 

[Papa Smurf]

Interesting! Thanks

 

[Rockerduck]

No, John 18:


The Historical Figure of Jesus by E. Sanders:


By executing Stephen, they risked reprisals from the Roman authority and from Stephen's sympathizers. Neither happened. Stephen was a newcomer and a relative unknown.

Even so, Stephen was very important to scripture and the History of the church. God uses the small to do big things. Everyone knows the "Stoning of Stephen" story.

 

[Reggie Belafonte]

Fact is that the top Jews were corrupt and Stephen exposed the Godless morons for who they truly were, not worthy of God in fact !

It's got nothing to do with the Romans in fact !

The Jews had lost their way regarding God in fact !

That's why the moronic leadership was killing all of Gods Prophets ! Fool ! Remember the Vineyard story ! Only the Jews who were with Jesus were worthy of God when Jesus went to Heaven in fact ! and it was in the story of Saul that he became Paul ! for he woke up in fact ! and remember that Saul seen the fact of an Angel in Stephen in fact. Stephen was a messenger from God in fact ! and what did Stephen see ? yes indeed ! for he went to Heaven in fact !