Acts 7:54-60
54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Imagining Stephen getting stoned while praying to the Lord and asking Him not hold "this sin against them" really shows the faith and obedience of Stephen. It's amazing what one endure when they are faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
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2 comments:
it is a wonderful picture that Jesus stands at the right hand of God at the moment of death to receive stephen into His kingdom. we would never fear death, whatever the circumstances were that surrounded it, if we would saw the Lord Jesus Himself welcoming us into His presence. it is the moment we all long for, "when faith shall be sight".
Thanks Esther!
Wow...The saying "don't kill the messenger" didn't happen here because they did kill him. But I think Stephen died exactly the way he wanted to, serving Christ till his very last breathe.
After reading about Stephen's death, it's interesting that the people still couldn't stand to hear the truth. They had to cover their ears, drag him out of the city, and shut him up for good. But with all their effort, they couldn't keep him quiet. Stephen went down as a true martyr for Christ. I feel so useless after reading about such great men and women in the Bible.
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