The blood of the martyrs even thus early had begun to be the seed of the Church.Īcts 8:1-40 is an important chapter in the history of the Church. But as Augustine said, "The Church owes Paul to the prayer of Stephen." However hard he tried Saul could never forget the way in which Stephen had died. The man who was to become the apostle to the Gentiles thoroughly agreed with the execution of Stephen. The first half of the first verse of chapter 8 goes with this section. To Stephen came the peace which comes to the man who has done the right thing even if the right thing kills him. (iii) The dreadful turmoil finished in a strange peace. "Lo," he said, "here is a token that I forgive thee." The man who follows Christ the whole way will find strength to do things which it seems humanly impossible to do. When George Wishart was to be executed, the executioner hesitated. As Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of his executioners ( Luke 23:34) so did Stephen. (ii) We see Stephen following his Lord's example. Beyond all that men could do to him he saw awaiting him the welcome of his Lord. There are in this scene certain notable things about Stephen. If the fall killed the man good and well if not, great boulders were hurled down upon him until he died. The witnesses had to do the actual throwing down. The criminal was taken to a height and thrown down. It was a lynching, because the Sanhedrin had no right to put anyone to death. It is to be noted that this was no judicial trial. When he said this it seemed to them only the greatest of blasphemies and the penalty for blasphemy was stoning to death ( Deuteronomy 13:6 ff.). His gaze had gone beyond time and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. But Stephen did not see the faces distorted with rage. And Saul fully agreed with his death.Ī speech like this could only have one end Stephen had courted death and death came. So they stoned Stephen as he called upon God and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Kneeling down he cried with a loud voice, "Lord, set not this sin to their charge." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And the witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul. They flung him outside the city and began to stone him. So he said, "Look now, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand." They shouted with a great shout and held their ears and launched themselves at him in a body. But he was full of the Holy Spirit and he gazed steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand. THE FIRST OF THE MARTYRS ( Acts 7:54-60 Acts 8:1 )Ĩ:1 As they listened to this their very hearts were torn with vexation and they gnashed their teeth at him.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |