Acts 6 – 9

Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee trained by the Rabbi Gamaliel, held the cloaks for the stone-throwers. As he watched with approval, life ebbed from the bleeding body of the first martyr of the church, Stephen. How did it come to this and where was all of this leading?

Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

Acts 6:3-5

His people knew where he stood, and they set him apart for the work of the Lord to build up the church as the Apostles requested. When you share the word of God and the truth about Jesus, opposition will come at you. It did not take long before folks tried to contend with his teachings.

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

Acts 6:8-10

When it did not work, they resorted to the same thing they used against Jesus … false witnesses. They accused Stephen of blasphemy against God and speaking against Moses. They accused him of speaking against the temple and the Law of Moses. These were serious charges, so they brought him before the Sanhedrin for trial. Just like Jesus said they would.

Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 10:17-22

Stephen’s defense was so brilliant it had to come from God. Our forefathers spoke against Joseph, their brother appointed by God, and turned him over to Gentiles. They next turned against Moses when God sent him to deliver the Israelites from bondage; and, Moses prophesied of the great Prophets God would raise up in the future. Their forefathers blasphemed God and turned to a golden calf, Molech and Ashera and Baal and turned away from the Tabernacle where God lived. Stephen rightly pointed out that the Hebrews were guilty of the very things they accused him (falsely) and of rejecting Jesus, The Prophet and putting him to death.

It was the truth. Jesus is Messiah. Stephen gave his life for the gospel, while Saul watched him die.

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Acts 8:1-3

His people knew where he stood, and they set him apart for the work of the Pharisees to destroy the church as the priests and scribes requested. When you opposed the Christ of God and the truth about Jesus, His enemies will support you. It did not take long before Saul took his show on the road.

And then it happened. Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus and faith was born. When he obediently went to the city and listened to the disciple sent to teach him, Saul obeyed the gospel.

It was the truth. Jesus is Messiah. Saul, soon to be called Paul, gave his life for the gospel.

It would be many years before Paul was martyred, but the two men are heroes of the faith. Coming from different starting places, they ended up in the same place. Stephen, by the will of God stood before the Sanhedrin and proclaimed truth until they killed him. His was a “one-sermon career” that resulted in zero conversions. Saul stood before the same Council, before Festus, before Felix, before Agrippa and the court of Nero. He preached countless sermons in synagogues and public squares. He penned half of the New Testament. We simply cannot know how many people converted as a result of his work.

It would be too easy to assess Stephen a failure and Saul/Paul a success. In a spiritual assessment through the eyes of Jesus, both are absolutely identical. You see, both Stephen and Saul gave their life for the sake of Jesus – and, that’s all He ever asks of anyone.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!