Scripture Reading: Acts 7:1-60, Acts 8:1-3, Psalm 78:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:14
The cabin lights were dim when the airplane began to dip and jerk. I was flying home from visiting my sister, who at the time lived in Hawaii, and I was aware that we were flying over the vast Pacific Ocean. The plane lurched again, sending my stomach to my throat. Seated between two strangers, I grabbed the armrests with a white knuckle grip, closed my eyes, and prayed. I wish I could say that I had profound thoughts, or a hopeful glimpse of eternity. But all I could think was, “I don’t want to die between these two strangers.”
In Acts 7, we witness one of the first displays of murderous violence against Christ’s Church. Stephen had been chosen to care for the growing number of new believers—in particular, the community’s widows—and so powerful was his ministry that a group of Jewish leaders within the community rose up in opposition, fearing their loss of influence. There was no doubt about their intentions. Acts 6:12 says they “seized him,” and brought him to the Sanhedrin. Stephen must have recognized the pattern. It’s what had happened to Jesus before a crowd yelled, “Crucify him!”
What would your last words be? Would you ask the murderous crowd for mercy? Would you defend yourself? Stephen did neither. Instead, he launched into an Old Testament exegesis worthy of the world’s best seminary. Throughout history, he said, Israelites had rejected the leaders and prophets God sent to them. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. Moses was rejected by his Hebrew neighbors. Having just escaped Egypt, the Israelites still resist God in the desert, begging Aaron to build them a calf to worship. Time and time again, God’s people cut off His outstretched arm. “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).
Stephen wasn’t able to tell the part of the story that we long to hear. He couldn’t explain the grace that Jesus offers to all of us stiff-necked resisters, because the crowd couldn’t stand it anymore. Imagine the rush of terror as they dragged him outside of the city. Coats were thrown down, rocks were picked up. And there went the first stone. Dust flew up, and then, he was crying out. But he didn’t call down judgment. He begged God to forgive.
Stephen was the Church’s first martyr. His life was marked by joy, service, and profound suffering. His last words were not about himself or the injustice of his end. His last thoughts were of his Savior and of the forgiveness available to all through Christ’s mercy.
Written by Claire Gibson
