Acts 7:54-60
54 When they heard these things they were [h]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened 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.
Quickword: Witness unto Death!
In Acts Chapter 6, charges are made by the high priest against Stephen, a follower of Jesus Christ. Stephen is accussed of blasphemy and is asked by the high priest if the charges are true. As we open Chapter 7, we find Stephen’s response. He recounts to those present, those of the faith from generation to generation have rejected God. In the preceding verses of our highlighted text, Acts 7:51-54 Stephen concludes his response “51 “You stiff-necked[g] and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”
After hearing these words, the crowd rushed Stephen, they drugged him out of the city and stone him to death. Even as he was dying he pleads to God for their forgiveness.
- Being a believer does not immune us from the harsh actions of the enemies of the cross.
- Speaking truth to power can have detrimental consequences, even death.
- Even while being mistreated we must always look to God and even ask for forgiveness for those who wrongly mistreat us.
Acts chapters 6 and 7 through the story of Stephen gives us a great example of how to serve during difficult times. Yes, Stephen loss his life but he gain the favor of God. The text tells us that while he was speaking, the heavens open and he could see the glory of God and Jesus standing as a result of his great faith. The question I close this post with is, how do we respond to adversity and what is the response Jesus has as a result of our actions? Are we willing to be witnesses of God and Jesus Christ unto death?
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