THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR
Acts 6:8-14 (NIV) 8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia —who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
Acts 7:54 – 8:1 (NIV) 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 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. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 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.
1 And Saul approved of their killing him.
And so it began. Stephen, one of the seven named to be deacons, began preaching under the power of the Holy Spirit, and it was more than the religious authorities could accept. Stephen had delivered a comprehensive account of the history of the Israelites, yet the Sanhedrin lied about him to justify their actions.
Has anyone ever lied about you? How did you react? I must admit that, unlike Stephen, I did not always model Christ. I am reminded of the hymn “In Christ alone,”
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
And then there was Saul. The man who would become the preacher to the Gentiles was present and approved of the stoning of Stephen. In the midst of the stoning, the heavens opened and Stephen saw Jesus, standing beside God’s throne. And, just as Jesus had done, Stephen asked God to forgive his murderers.
May we stay in the shadow of the Savior as we navigate this life, remaining bold in our faith and unafraid of the consequences.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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