How did the parable of the vineyard explain Israel's treatment of God's prophets and His Son?
The parable shows the vineyard owner sent servants to collect the harvest, but the husbandmen killed them; finally he sent his son, and they killed him too. It parallels Israel’s forefathers persecuting and killing God’s prophets, then betraying and murdering His Son, the Messiah.
Les explains that Stephen is showing the same pattern: the prophets came to Israel’s forefathers, and they killed them. In the parable, the husband went to a far country, sent servants back to the vineyard as harvest time came, and the husbandmen killed them; finally he sent his son, and they killed him. Stephen then tells the religious leaders they were the betrayers and murderers of the Just One, meaning they had killed their Messiah. Jeremiah also suffered because he prophesied things Israel did not want to hear.