Acts: 7 Dying to Live

When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 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.

Thousands of Christians have died for their faith over the centuries. Even today Christians are persecuted in countries like Algeria, Iran, Sudan, and China. Stephen was the first martyr, setting the standard for all Christians who have come under fire for their faith.

While on trial, Stephen spoke so courageously and clearly that members of the sophisticated Sanhedrin lost all control. They gnashed their teeth, covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, rushed at Stephen in their fury. Then, in a mob action, they stoned him to death. (Acts 7:54-60).

Stephen had begun his public service for Christ when the apostles chose him, with six others, to make sure that Greek-speaking widows got their fair share of food. As it turned out, he did far more than administrate charity. God gave him the power to do miracles and to speak convincingly to other Greek-speaking Jews. However, Stephen angered the religious establishment for some of the same reasons Jesus did. Religious authorities claimed that he had dishonored their revered temple and the Old Testament law. There was a shred of truth in the charges. For Stephen, God's grace was greater than any building or any rule book.

At his trial, Stephen presented his case loudly and clearly. He recast the history of Israel as the story of God saving his people in spite of their stubborn resistance. Had anything changed? The very people who most honored the temple and the law- weren't these the same ones who "betrayed and murdered"" Jesus?

Like Jesus, Stephen was tried and executed because he had upset the establishment. Like Jesus, he died breathing forgiveness, not condemnation. Even while dying, he prayed for those who were stoning him. Stephen's final prayer was answered spectacularly, for a man named Saul stood among the persecutors. As Augustine said, "If Stephen had not prayed, the church would not have had Paul."

Reflection

Courage is the name of the game in chapter 7. Even though the early part of Stephen's speech must have please his Jewish audience- referencing famous ancestors such as Abraham, Moses, and David- Stephen quickly turned his listeners against him and directly attacked their establishment. He compared their treatment of Jesus with earlier Jewish rejection of God's messengers. He also criticized Jewish temple worship, claiming that "the Most High does not live in houses made by men". As a final commentary, Stephen brazening called the high priests of the Sanhedrin traitors and murderers. Undoubtedly, Stephen must have known that we was risking his life here, but his faith in Christ was so strong that he was willing to lay down his own life to pave the way for the young church to grow.