Compassion in the face of hatred and ignorance

          I was reading Acts 6 and 7 this morning. I want to specifically talk about what happened at the end of chapter 7. Stephen was an early Christian. He was spreading the gospel and all that jazz. These Jews from "the Synagogue of Freedom" (this is rather ironic, come to think of it) didn't really like what Stephen was doing and accused him of blasphemy. He was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (which, as I understand is a sort of religious ruling council).
          When asked about the accusations, Stephen recounts a story all Jews were intimately familiar with: a brief history of Abraham through Joseph and the Exodus. He point out how they are just as stubborn and closed-minded as their ancestors. The council got really angry about this "When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." " (Acts 7:54-56, NIV). They covered their ears at this (can you believe it?!) and dragged him out to be stoned.
          This is the part I am really astounded by: While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. (59 and 60). Even in the face of death, he showed compassion and begged for mercy on their behalf. How many of us would be so loving and compassionate to those who would harm us, those who are so against us it would only be natural to resent them. Stephen didn't curse them or anything like that. Could we do the same?