Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
"Why do you persecute me." --Jesus
You got it!
Christ is the HEAD of the 'church' and we SAINTS are the STONES that are being used to build a Holy Priesthood.
WE are His body now; not the little wafer your chosen religions hands out.
So when Stephen etal were persecuted, it was Jesus' BODY that was persecuted. Thus the quote:
It was your first pope who said so:
1 Peter 2:5