Fan the Flame - A Journey Through ActsSample

Day 17 - Stoning of Stephen & Saul the Persecutor

This one is a very special Bible passage for me. One reason is that we read often in the New Testament that the risen Christ ascended to heaven and sat at the right hand of God. But look what happens here. The crowd was furious. Stephen had just delivered a powerful sermon, boldly confronting the religious leaders with their resistance to God’s truth. Acts 7:54-8:3 describes the moment when their rage boiled over. They gnashed their teeth at him, but Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up and saw heaven open. He declared, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! (Acts 7:56). Christ standing at the right hand of God – a symbol and a message we are not alone when we are in trouble for Christ’s sake, and something great is about to be launched.

At this, they covered their ears and, in blind fury, dragged him outside the city to stone him. As the rocks flew, Stephen did something remarkable – he prayed for his killers, just as Jesus did on the cross: ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’. NOTE that his prayer is reminiscent of the prayer of Christ at the Cross – ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do!’ And with that, he died. Watching over it all, approving of Stephen’s execution, was Saul, a zealous Pharisee who would soon lead a fierce persecution against the church.

Saul went from house to house, dragging off men and women to prison. His goal was to destroy the movement of Jesus’ followers. But what Saul did not know was that God was already at work, even in the midst of persecution. Jesus was standing with his church. The scattering of believers only spread the gospel further. Something that you would not expect from those who run away due to persecution.

And Saul himself? He would soon have an encounter that would change his life forever.

From a human perspective, Stephen’s death might have seemed like a tragedy. A faithful servant of Christ was killed, and the church faced intense persecution. But from God’s perspective, His plan was unfolding. The gospel did not die with Stephen, it spread. It spread by those who run away due to the persecution. Persecution did not silence them and did quite the contrary! And Saul, the very man leading the charge against Christians, was about to become one of the greatest apostles of Christ.

Sometimes, what seems like defeat is actually a setup for God’s greater purpose. We may face opposition, hardships, or seasons of difficulty, but God is never absent. He is at work, even when things look bleak.

I wonder if you are facing opposition for your faith? If so, how can Stephen’s courage encourage you? Do you trust that God is working even in difficult seasons, and that he will use the challenges in your life to advance His kingdom? Let’s pray that even in persecution we’ll remember God is in control, so we can stand firm and trust in His greater plan.

Written by Emil Rahimov