Acts 7:54-60

                                                                 Acts 7:54-60

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ 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. ⁵⁶ “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open 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.

All of us are called to face a variety of circumstances throughout our lives.  What makes all the difference is how we respond in the face of all the situations we face.  Today’s passage has Stephen facing the most difficult of circumstances imaginable.  Yet, his response is honoring to God and should challenge us to evaluate our hearts any time we are tempted to complain. 

 

A VISION OF GLORY IN THE FACE OF ANGER: Stephen’s review of Israel’s history was not very well received.  His condemnation of them for murdering Jesus brought these men to the breaking point.  The gnashed their teeth in furry and were overcome by anger.  Any time we feel this type of reaction when someone accuses us of something, you can bank on the fact that the accusation is true.  The contrast between the characters in this scene is priceless.  The Sanhedrin is grinding their teeth in anger while Stephen is gazing up to heaven in joyful worship.  Picture the faces of both groups of men.  If you only had those facial expressions and were told to guess which one was about to die, you would, most likely pick wrong.  When we face excruciating circumstances, the Lord’s glory is almost always the most evident to believers.  Everyone faces troubling times.  However, followers of Jesus never face them alone, the Lord is always with us.

 

THE VIOLENCE OF MEN IN THE FACE OF SAUL: As Stephen points to heaven and speaks of the glory of Jesus, these religious leaders respond by closing their ears and opening their mouth.  When people are convinced that there is no truth outside of themselves, they will refuse to listen and make noise to cover up the truth.  They could not refute Stephen’s argument or logic, so they resort to violence to kill him just as they had done with Jesus and the prophets who came before Him.  Luke makes a point of mentioning that before the men began stoning Stephen, they laid their garments and the feet of Saul.  This is if our first introduction to the person who will become the main character of the book of Acts.  However, I think it is mentioned here not only to introduce a character, but to record the fact that Paul was a witness to this unjust execution as well as a hearer of Stephen’s sermon.  I believe that Stephen’s message was used of the Spirit to begin to open the heart of Paul to the message of Christ.  Our job is to proclaim the truth of Christ even if people do not want to listen.  We never know who the Lord might be drawing to Himself.

 

A VIEW OF GRACE IN THE FACE OF DEATH: It is interesting to note that we often become like the people we spend time with.  It is unclear if Stephen spent physical time with Jesus, but it is obvious that he spent “spiritual time” with Him.  Death is one of the most difficult circumstances that humans must face.  No matter what the circumstance of our death it is difficult.  Whether by disease, violence, accident or age the body will eventually succumb to death.  It is something all who are not raptured will face but all have a natural fear.  However, if we know Jesus, death is a completely different experience.  It may be painful, and we may dislike or even fear that pain.  But Jesus gives grace to His children in the time of death.  We see Stephen looking into heaven, having a vision of Jesus, and committing his spirit to the Lord.  We also see him requesting forgiveness of those who are executing him.  No matter how deeply we are sinned against, forgiveness is the mark of Jesus in our lives.  We forgive others because He forgave us.  His grace allows us to recognize that we are no better than those who sin against us.  It is only by God’s grace that Stephen was not out there stoning someone else.  It is purely God’s grace that prevents us from sinning against others.  

 

APPLICATION: Be thankful for and trust in God’s presence no matter how difficult the circumstances we face might become.  Strive to look at Him instead of the problems we face.  Be faithful to testify to others of the works of the Lord.  Proclaim the Gospel with boldness because we never know who might be listening and what the Spirit might do in the hearts of people we don’t even know are listening.  Do not be bitter when people sin against us.  Forgive freely with the recognition that we are all full of the same sins in our hearts and it is only by God’s grace in our lives that we are not doing the same thing as our tormenters.