Acts 7:54-60 – Stephen the Martyr
The Living Word With Chuck Davis
Acts 7:54-60 – Stephen the Martyr
Welcome to the Living Word with Chuck Davis. Acts 7, 54-60, Stephen the Martyr. Now when they heard these things, they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit." And falling to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. We get to see here a clear picture of mob mentality. They grind their teeth. They can't take it anymore. His message has been too direct. And they rush on him. Stephen is going to end up being stoned, ranged out of the city. I mean, so he's going to become the church's first martyr. There'll be others that follow shortly, but he's the first one to be at least named in the process of those who are martyred for the faith. There's some interesting pictures that happen in this. While it's happening, Stephen is transported into heaven. He sees the glory of God. He sees the Son of Man standing. I've talked about this many times before, but kings don't stand on their thrones. Kings sit on their thrones. Really is an expression of what Jesus thinks about when his saints are going through persecution and particularly murdered them. When Paul, or known as Saul at that time, is going to be arrested by Jesus, Jesus says, "Why do you persecute me?" And in the end, Stephen prays like Jesus, "Lord, Jesus received my spirit." This sounds very similar to one of the final words of Jesus on the cross. Into your hands, I commit my spirit. "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Jesus prays, "Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." This picture of really Jesus being expressed through Stephen is a declaration that we can experience the fullness of God and the Christ life, even in our most severe crises of life. So what? There are several principles or applications I see coming out of this text. I always need to look for God's larger design. It's oftentimes hidden in little phrases in the text. We see it here that when they cast him out of the city and stoned him, the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. Luke's giving us a clue to a key character. Remember, Stephen has just preached about the nation's blessing that Abraham was to bring. He was called out as one who was sent. God is telling a bigger story, and we are going to see how this unfolds in the next couple of passages of Pericapies. There is an invitation here to see God in all of life's circumstances. He is more present when we are suffering than we realize. In those moments, there is an easy reflex to go to lament Saul, how long, oh God, but to know that Jesus is there looking on. The now what for this? I feel like I am in this season of just repeating it over and over, but maybe it is the basis of everything that establishes, or maybe not establishes, but continues our relationship with the Lord. We need to trust. Trust the Lord in the midst of the most difficult situations. He is more present than we realize. And so Lord, I pray especially for the person who is in a trial right now listening to this or feels overwhelmed by a circumstance. Would you insert your presence into that reality, in that multiple declaration where you told us throughout scripture to fear not, you never said that you would, I should say never. You usually don't say you are going to solve the problem, but you say fear not for I am with you. So Lord, I pray that those who are in a tough time would sense your presence right with them. In Jesus' name.