Today's passage highlights the persecution and murder of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. At the end of yesterday's reading, we learned that the apostles had appointed seven men to serve the people (acting like deacons or trustees) of the early church and to keep injurious divisions from arising (as between the Hellenized and Hebraic Jews). Among this group, Stephen appears to serve as the chief servant, and Luke describes him as a "man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit."
In the martyrdom of Stephen, we see the fulfillment of Jesus's prophecies:
1) Mark 13:9-11: "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."
2) Luke 21:12-19: "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life."
3) Acts 1:8: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Please note how Jesus specifically indicates that persecution would come and would signify the world's rejection of Him. From our human perspective, we might view persecution as a hindrance to the advance of the Gospel, but Jesus argues just the opposite: by their standing before councils and proclaiming the truth through the Holy Spirit, the disciples would testify to the Gospel. The key element lies in the power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples would not speak of their own accord, but rather the Holy Spirit would empower and direct them for these very moments. In fact, the persecution around the time of Stephen's death acted as the catalyst for the ongoing fulfillment of the promise given in Acts 1:8.
Was persecution merely for the first-century church? Clearly not! Paul notes in 2 Timothy 3:12,13 (during his house arrest in Rome): "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." Hundreds of thousands of Christians are martyred each year, and many more face the rejection of family, friends, and community. How can we endure it? Only by resting in the faithfulness of God Himself and remembering that His presence is more valuable than any earthly comfort.
Aside from the revelation of God's truth (as shown through Stephen's testimony), God also revealed His presence to Stephen, who exclaimed: "Look, I see heaven open, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." In his testimony, the revelation, and his forgiving spirit, Stephen pointed clearly to the One Who had conquered death and the grave, bringing Him honor and glory.
QUESTIONS
1. In what ways could you use the filling of the Spirit this week?
2. How can you better glorify the Lord in your struggles?
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