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The Stoning of Stephen Stephen had recently been chosen as one of the seven deacons. A condition of this office was that one must be full of faith and wisdom (Acts 6:3). When Stephen was chosen it was noted that he was full of faith and the Holy Ghost (Acts 6:5). In verse 8 we see that he was full of faith and power. We remember that Jesus had told these disciples that they would receive power after the Holy Ghost had come upon them (Acts 1:8). The dictionary defines power as “the ability to do or act, the capability of accomplishing something.” Stephen indeed had power which was manifested by wonders and miracles. Stephen was not without opposition: After the apostles were delivered from prison at the hand of an angel, we remember that Gamaliel had cautioned the council to leave the apostles alone. If their move was of men it would fail, if not they would be opposing God. Evidently this advise did not filter down to the foreign born Jews who resided in Jerusalem. Jews who were labeled Libertines because they were freed Roman slaves and also Jews from Alexandria, Cyrene, and Cilicia disputed with Stephen (vs. 9). Being unable to resist the spirit and wisdom of Stephen (vs. 10), they found false witnesses who accused Stephen of blaspheming the law of Moses and the temple (vss. 11-14). In all of this Stephen was so full of the Holy Ghost that his face shown as an angel (vs. 15). When it was Stephen’s time to speak he recounted the history of Israel from the time that God first called Abraham, through the time of the patriarchs and deliverance from Egypt. and the promise of the Prophet/Messiah that was to come who would be likened unto Moses (Acts 7:1-50). Stephen then went on the attack: Acts 7:51 ¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. The reaction was not good. The crowd gnashed on Stephen with their teeth, but he still being full of the Holy Ghost looked into heaven and saw the glory of the invisible God and the glorified Christ standing in the place of power and authority. When Stephen told the crowd that he saw Jesus at the throne of heaven, they would hear no more. They rushed him out of the city and stoned him. As the stones began to hit Stephen, he called upon God and said, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit.” As he died he asked that those who stoned him would not have that sin held against them (vss. 54-60). What does this tell us? Are we immune from suffering and persecution and even martyrdom? Hardly! Eleven of the twelve apostles were martyred. The crosses of early crucified Christians lined the road into road for miles during the Roman persecutions. Those who refused to put Caesar as Lord in place of Jesus were fed to the lions. Could it happen again? You’d better believe it! While we in the western world relax in our fine churches and rejoice in prosperity (Rev. 3:17) we should not forget that in a large part of the world, being a Christian is no casual thing. In most of the Islamic world converting to Christianity is a capital crime punishable by death or imprisonment. In China, Christians are under constant persecution. In India, Christians suffer persecution, beatings and murder, from the hands of both Moslem and Hindus. Jesus said that the disciple was not above his Master. If He was persecuted, we will be persecuted (John 15:20); that we would be afflicted, killed and hated of all nations for His name’s sake (Matt. 24:9). Yes, we in the western world have escaped most of this, but that does not negate the word of God. We see the political landscape of the world changing quickly. The Russian bear is reawakening and we see nations aligning themselves against Israel, as prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39, with a resulting catastrophic war, which quite likely could be nuclear. All of which is setting the stage for the anti-Christ. Many feel that the church will be immune from his wrath, I hope they are right. We do know that we are not appointed to the wrath of God (I Thes. 5:9), but the wrath of man is another matter. I’m not looking for persecution, but if and when it comes, I pray to have the grace of Stephen and the enabling power of the Holy Ghost to be able to endure through it. Trying to control my dry hair, I treated my scalp with olive oil before washing it. Worried that the oil might leave an odor, I washed my hair several times. That night when I went to bed, I leaned over to my husband and asked, "Do I smell like olive oil?" "No," he said, sniffing me. "Do I smell like Popeye?" "They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a crown of roses?" _ Martin Luther Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com
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