Stephen is asked to answer the charges. Instead he gives them an outline of the whole of Israel's history. Jesus often did not answer the question that people asked, but instead told them what they needed to know, though they did not necessarily want to know. Stephen is doing the same.
Stephen goes right back to the beginning of the nation, ie to Abraham. He begins with a précis of Abraham's life. Why is he doing this? Maybe it is to show that he is well versed in Israel's history, or that the whole message of the gospel is springs out of Israel's history and is the fulfilment of it.
He then gets to Joseph, and now the knife starts to go in. Stephen draws attention to the fact that most of the patriarchs (ie Joseph's brothers) were jealous of Joseph. Ie Israel has actually never had a good track record of recognising the people chosen by God. Despite his brother's opposition, Joseph survived and prospered.
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