Lineage Pentecost to Patmos
The Stoning of Stephen Episode 2
As the Christian Church was forming and building its structure
some challenges arose,
one of which was the overburdening of the work on the apostles.
Inevitably, some believers were not getting the attention
and service that they needed,
and there was some early tension
between the Grecian and Hebrew believers,
with the Grecians saying that their widows were being neglected.
From a situation that could have splintered
and torn the young church apart
came a form of structure and organisation that strengthened it,
providing us with functions and roles that we still have today.
[music]
Rather than the apostles having the responsibility to look after the poor,
they could focus all their time
to the ministry of the word and prayer.
In order to facilitate this they chose seven men of honest report
who were full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.
These seven men were Philip, Prochorus,
Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicholas, and Stephen.
These men were prayed over, and after this division of the tasks,
the Bible says in Acts chapter 6
that the word of God increased and the number of disciples multiplied.
A situation that could have divided the church
instead caused it to structure and strengthen.
[music]
Of these, the most well-known was Stephen.
Stephen was the most gifted
and when he spoke his adversaries could find no fault in him,
so instead they used a charge of blasphemy
and brought him before the high priest.
Here he had an opportunity to answer to his accusers
and he was able to defend his faith,
and Acts chapter 7 is basically a transcript of what he said.
He starts with Jewish history from the time of Moses to David to Solomon
and comes all the way down to his day,
where he says that they killed the Just One, or the Messiah.
[music]
It was at this point that his audience couldn't take it anymore.
They had heard enough, and despite not giving him a fair trial
or there being any legal proceedings,
he was taken out of the city,
and Acts chapter 7 says he was stoned to death.
The first martyr of the Christian faith
died a cruel and gruesome death with no trial
at the hands of an angry mob.
He died like many who came after him would,
with a peace in his heart and a love for his attackers,
for his last words were a prayer to God
where he asked Him not to lay the charge of killing him on them.
The Bible then says that he fell asleep,
one of the clearest places in scripture
where death is likened to sleep.
[music]
In Acts chapter 7:58 the Bible says that those who stoned Stephen
laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
This seemingly small point is not written for no reason.
The fact that Saul is mentioned is important,
because no doubt the image of Stephen dying
with a peace and a calmness on his face
was an image that he could not get out of his mind.
Though the ministry of Stephen was probably not long
from the time of his ordination until his death,
the impact lived on because his martyrdom was witnessed
by the man who would later on be converted
a few chapters on in the book of Acts.
Imagine the scene when they meet in heaven,
no doubt Stephen rejoicing because he died with a love for his attackers.
The old adage that the blood of Christians is seed to the gospel
came true for him personally.
May we have a love, a forbearance,
and a patience with other people, especially those who persecute us.