Something unexpected happened. Stephen’s face changed…

“All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV

That should have stopped them in their tracks…but it didn’t…

They pressed on with their evil scheme, oblivious to the fact that, behind the scenes, Jesus was watching…and working. Through their wickedness, He was doing something that nothing could stop. In the words of Tertullian, a second century Christian theologian, “The more they mow us down, the more we grow. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”, this violent act of hatred let loose a wave of new life.  It lit a fire outside of Jerusalem that was destined to spread throughout the Roman empire and beyond. 

“Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Stephen opened his mouth and began to speak…

Carefully, deliberately, he reminded his accusers of their history…Abraham…the patriarchs…Moses and the burning bush…Moses and the exodus…Moses and the miracles in the wilderness…Moses and the rebellion… Moses and the covenant, the tabernacle, the glory of God…Joshua…David…Solomon and the temple…

And so the story of redemption and disobedience unfolded…until…Stephen turned the spotlight on his accusers.

Stephen was on a roll…oblivious to the danger, he was sharpening his weapon! Like a skilful archer, he chose a polished arrow and took aim at his accusers. 

Then he fired…but not in his own defence.

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭51‬-‭53‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That set the cat among the pigeons! The entire religious hierarchy was in an uproar. 

Oh, Stephen! What have you done?

The reaction was instantaneous and vicious, like pulling the pin in a hand grenade. 

Bullseye! The arrow found its mark with unerring accuracy but…instead of piercing their hearts, the arrow found their conscience. Instead of producing repentance, the arrow’s wound poured pure venom…rage so terrible that all reason fled. 

Did this mean that Stephen, in this crisis, would expect to be immune to the hatred of his enemies? Would he be supernaturally protected from harm? Would he walk away unscathed from this skirmish between himself and the powers of darkness? What about God’s promise, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper”?

Where does faith fit into a situation like this? How does the will of God feature in this drama? 

Jesus had His own plan. Stephen already knew the outcome. He saw the welcome that awaited him. He saw heaven joining earth in a standing ovation. He heard the accolades that his faithfulness and courage had earned him…

“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. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭55‬-‭56‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Like his Master, he was chosen to be seed, the harvest of which would be many millions of seeds in every generation througout the centuries. 

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,

dragged him out of the city and began to stone him…”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭57-58a NIV‬‬

Stones flew…and Stephen’s ministry of miracles of mercy and compassion came to an abrupt end, snuffed out, just like that!Gone the favour God’s people had enjoyed. Gone the peace that had reigned in the city. Hatred flowed like a river… and God’s people fled…scattered like a flock of sheep invaded by wolves. 

Someone stood on the sidelines…watching…approving…cheering the stone-throwers on…guarding their clothing as they hurled their missiles at an innocent man.  

“…Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

Acts 7: 58b NIV

Luke mysteriously, masterfully, sort of “ by the way”, introduced the player who would soon take centre stage in the story of the early church. Who was this man? Why was he mentioned? Why was he important? 

Meanwhile, in the heavenly court, the onlookers watched with baited breath as the scene unfolded on earth. Heaven and earth became one for a moment as Stephen, Jesus’ first “witness” (Greek – martus…martyr), left the earth behind to gain his eternal reward. 

“…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.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭55‬-‭56‬, ‭59‬-‭60‬ ‭NIV‬‬

With the words of Jesus on his lips and his blood soaking into the dust, Stephen “fell asleep” on earth and “woke up” in heaven. 

…and the believers fled…everywhere…carrying with them the precious Word hidden in their hearts and spilling from their lips like seed in the wind. God was at work again, spreading the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. 

To be continued