The First Martyr

Read Acts 6:8-8:1
 
Acts 6:5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith)…8 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people…13 The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. 14 We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
 
STEPHEN’s flame was bright and hot for Jesus for just a short time. We meet him with a wonderful phrase as he was chosen among the first deacons: a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Acts 6:8 tells us, too, he was full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. Perhaps that is why certain Jews from other nations began to accuse him. Was it jealousy? After all, none of his accusers could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. Jealousy is a violent opposer of truth. So they lied about Stephen. They had nothing against him, so they created a crime against this godly man.
   If you want a good summary of God’s Love Story, you’ll find it in Acts 7. Stephen’s defense is not about his innocence. He spoke only of God’s work to create the world, create the Jews, form a nation of law, establish prophets and kings, judge Israel’s crimes and restore them from exile. He taught them of Jesus fulfilling the law. The Stephen declared he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God!
   Indeed, this man was Spirit-empowered. And one might wonder why God would so quickly take Stephen from the earth so soon. But ours is not to wonder of the mysteries of God. Our work is to celebrate the wonderful mystery of God’s Love Story that continues to weave its way through history.
   Stephen’s voice should echo in our souls as we consider who God is, what God has done and how this applies to our lives. Each one saved from sin is a Spirit-empowered human being gifted to be full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
   Learn God’s story. Tell it to people because so few people know. Rejoice that you, too, will one day see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand! (Acts 7:56)