en_obs-tn/content/45/06.md

That day many people in Jerusalem started persecuting the followers of Jesus, so the believers fled to other places. But in spite of opposition, they preached about Jesus everywhere they went.

This is background information about the persecution of the believers after the death of Stephen. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background)

But in spite of opposition

The Jewish leaders thought they could stop the spread of Jesus’ teaching by persecuting his followers. Instead, this caused them to scatter and spread the message even more widely.