Tag: Acts 7

“You stubborn people! You are heathen^[l] at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”

54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.^[m] 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.^[n]

59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.”             v. 51-60 (NLT)

Have you ever had to take a stand for Christ where you didn’t know the outcome would be?  In America, we don’t know what it is like to fear loosing our life because we are Christians.  We think we experience extreme persecution when someone rejects us or mocks us for Christ.  While in other parts of our world people die because of the name of Christ.   Stephen is the first Christian who is killed for his faith.  He didn’t hold back and shared the truth with boldness, regardless of the outcome.

What would it look like if we had boldness like Stephen taking a stand for Christ no matter the cost?  What does that look like for us in the workplace, at school, in our neighborhood.  We may never have a life or death situation, but everyday we have an opportunity to represent Christ to those around us.  When those moment arise may we step out in faith and trust that the Holy Spirit will guide our word and actions.