Click to open audio and follow along with the text.
Good morning dear friends,
Today is Wednesday May 8, and we’re reading the sad account of the murder of Deacon Stephen in Acts 7.
Stephen wasn’t the first to die because of his allegiance to Jesus and God’s truth. Can you think of at least one other before him?
How about John the Baptist, remember he was beheaded by King Herod because John called him out for his adulterous affair with his brother’s wife?(Matt. 14:1-12) John was the first to identify Jesus as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
As you read Acts 7 what do you find to be Stephen’s crime for which he is interrogated and later stoned to death?
The sudden hysteria as Stephen is telling the story of God’s dealing with His people Israel, is pride and shame blinding the minds and hearts of very religious people. They lost control didn’t they, they succumbed to mass hysteria and killed a man who only a short while before was invited to spiritual leadership because he was known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Isn’t that remarkable?
What exactly do you think Stephen saw as he looked up toward the sky as the religious leaders were so furious and screaming at him? He said “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56)
Have you ever been with a wonderful Christian who is near death and actually longs to go home to heaven? I have. And I’ve been with some who apparently had a brief glimpse into heaven before they actually “departed” as Paul calls death. In Stephen’s case, what he says he saw matches with what is written about Jesus in Romans 8:34 & Hebrews 1:3… Risen Jesus is at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for us and saving completely those who trust in Him (Hebrews 7:25).
Standing as a witness to this stoning is a young Rabbi named Saul. We meet him in vs. 58. The accusers laid their coats at his feet as they picked up the stones. Evidently Saul was the representative of the Sanhedrin, to whom the religious leaders had given responsibility to oversee this execution.
Tomorrow we’ll notice this Saul very rapidly takes a prominent position in leading the opposition seeking to eradicate this Jesus movement.
Then Friday, in Acts 9 we’ll see this same Saul, on his way to Damascus to arrest Jesus followers, encounters the RISEN Jesus and his life is changed… and then next week we’ll see that in Acts 13:9 this Saul changes his name to Paul. . .that’s right, the same Paul who wrote much of the New Testament as the great Apostle Paul! But his introduction to us is here… with blood splattering on him and others, as the stones crush Stephen to death.
Listen to Stephen’s last words… do they sound familiar? “Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit…Lord do not hold this sin against them.” What gave Stephen the mercy and grace to die such a horrible death with forgiveness on his lips?
As you and I walk the path of life God has for us today, I invite us to celebrate that for us and anyone, no matter the past, with Jesus 2 Corinthians 5:17 is so true… “Therefore if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come.” and that includes facing death with the certainty Jesus is walking ‘the valley of the shadow of death’ with you and will escort you to heaven!
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
Archived back issues of “Walking with Jesus” and other resources are available by clicking here to open our ‘home page’ (or go to HOME at upper right of this page).
Share with friends. Subscribe below for daily “Walking with Jesus”.