Stephen - The First Martyr

The day Jesus Stood in Heaven – Martyrdom of St. Stephen

Acts 6:5- 7:60

Stephen was a well-attested man, full of Spirit and wisdom.  Further, the scripture says that he was full of grace and power, and did great wonders and signs among the people. 

Stephen’s testimony

Wisdom could never be hidden; it’s like a light in the darkness.  The person with godly wisdom is like sweet fragrance which spreads in the wind and shares the pleasantness to places wherever it travels.  Such was the wisdom Stephen received from God, in which His reputation was peerless in that time against the synagogues that rose up and disputed with him (Acts 6:9).  Though the members of the synagogues were united to confront Stephen, who with his teachings was shaking the very foundations of Judaic traditions, and none was able to withstand him in the matters of wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.  Then, we can see the age-old tactic of the devil coming into play.  The evil men when not able to withstand truth, resorted to accusations of blasphemous lies to save their kingdom of wickedness.  The mob was instigated against the man who had the face of an Angel.   The attitude of Stephen against such persecution is noteworthy, which sets him apart as a precious testimony in the early churches.  He was calm and composed, remained silent until he was given a chance to speak.  The strategy Stephen in the Spirit employed here against the blasphemous and unwise accusations is a narration of the biblical history of God’s engagement with the people displaying his sound knowledge.  He emphasized God’s promises, His protection, His judgment, His leading, and His dwelling place among several other things.  Stephen’s speech continued till the point the Jewish people were exasperated and gnashed their teeth in great anger.  He was courageous and knew that his earthly journey was about to finish.  Then, he looked up intently into heaven seeing the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  And then, to seal his fate at the hands of his persecutors, he told what he saw in the heaven to the berserk crowd who rushed upon him with one accord.  They threw him outside of the city and stoned him.  Even in the face of death, he was able to kneel down and pray in loud voice to the Almighty to forgive his killers and yielded his spirit to the receiving hands of God. 

I pray for the Lord's abundant grace for us to ponder upon the life of Stephen and increase in our measure of faith.  Stephen's attitude in the face of formidable odds, his forgiving nature, his faith, and his courage, was a milestone in the Christian faith that set up a strong foundation upon which God proceeded to raise His church from the early days.  Amen.