The Way
Before Stephen's Pile of Stones
The young man who watched the coats of the men with stones
Story
The men of the Council, the highest court of the Jews, could not hold back their rage, and they ground their teeth. Stephen, a servant of the church in Jerusalem, had told them they were the ones who killed Jesus, the Righteous One. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven. Stephen said, “Look, I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
They covered their ears, shouted, and rushed at him all together. They dragged Stephen out of the city. The witnesses who would throw the first stones took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. As the stones flew, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Stephen fell to his knees and cried out loudly, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, Stephen died, as if falling asleep. Saul thought it was right that Stephen was killed. That same day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and Saul went from house to house, dragging off men and women and handing them over to prison.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of the Lord and of Paul
Look, I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Lord, do not hold this sin against them.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Acts 7:54–8:3
Background
Stephen was one of the seven men the church in Jerusalem chose to care for its widows. As the believers scattered by the persecution spread the word wherever they went, the gospel actually spread beyond Jerusalem.
Pause and Reflect
Can I pray even for someone who has hurt me?