Daily Bread 2010 - Acts 7
Daily Bread 2010 Acts 7
51"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."
The Stoning of Stephen
54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But 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."
57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Today we learn about the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, or the first Christian to be killed (stoned) for their faith. We also learn that the future St. Paul approved of, and was an instigator of this stoning.
Stephen was one of the first deacons in the church, who was set apart by the apostles to deal with some of the more concrete needs in the early community (like feeding the Grecian widows). Obviously he was a man of great faith, and as he was being stoned he asked that God forgive the angry mob of their sins. This was similar to Jesus’ last words, “Father forgive them they know not what they do.”
So here we see already the disciples doing the things Jesus did, and now we see Stephen suffering and dying in much the same way Jesus did, and forgiving as He did. He is one of the first persons to be called a Saint in the church. Stories like this challenge me. What would I be willing to undergo for Jesus? As we look at some of the challenges and trials we all face, it would help us to realize that we have not had to undergo anything like Stephen, and some of the other apostles we will read about in the chapters ahead.
God grant us faith like Stephen to be bold in our faith, even when we are persecuted in ways much less serious than Stephen. Help us to care less about how we will be received in the world and more about honoring You who we will one day give account to. Thank you for saints like Stephen that have gone before us and followed you no matter what the cost. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
51"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."
The Stoning of Stephen
54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But 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."
57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Today we learn about the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, or the first Christian to be killed (stoned) for their faith. We also learn that the future St. Paul approved of, and was an instigator of this stoning.
Stephen was one of the first deacons in the church, who was set apart by the apostles to deal with some of the more concrete needs in the early community (like feeding the Grecian widows). Obviously he was a man of great faith, and as he was being stoned he asked that God forgive the angry mob of their sins. This was similar to Jesus’ last words, “Father forgive them they know not what they do.”
So here we see already the disciples doing the things Jesus did, and now we see Stephen suffering and dying in much the same way Jesus did, and forgiving as He did. He is one of the first persons to be called a Saint in the church. Stories like this challenge me. What would I be willing to undergo for Jesus? As we look at some of the challenges and trials we all face, it would help us to realize that we have not had to undergo anything like Stephen, and some of the other apostles we will read about in the chapters ahead.
God grant us faith like Stephen to be bold in our faith, even when we are persecuted in ways much less serious than Stephen. Help us to care less about how we will be received in the world and more about honoring You who we will one day give account to. Thank you for saints like Stephen that have gone before us and followed you no matter what the cost. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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