The Stoning of Stephen

While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 

Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, 

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Acts 7:59-60

In Stephen's story, Luke continues his major theme of traveling the Way and spreading the Word empowered by the Spirit. 

Stephen's martyrdom backstory begins in Acts 1:8. Jesus tells the apostles they would receive power from the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses in "Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

The first century church is organizing, leaving the apostles too busy to to distribute food to the widows. Stephen, a minority Greek Christian, is ordained for the ministry of food distribution. 

Stephen takes this commission seriously and, empowered by the Spirit, exceeds this ministry by preaching and wonder-making.  

Stephen is brought before the council of apostles. He delivers a jeremiad of accusing, betraying and murdering the prophets and Jesus.  A conspiracy develops based on false testimony. 

As he's questioned, Steven gazes into heaven saying, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 

The crowd, already angry, rushes at him, drags him into the street and begins stoning him —the equivalent of a lynching. Stephen kneels praying, as Jesus did, for the crowd's forgiveness and gives up his spirit. Stephen’s final protest marks him as a faithful witness, a martyr.

Steven, empowered by the Spirit, leaves Jerusalem heads towards Judea and Samaria, is arrested, falsely accused and lynched.

Here are two observations of based on Stephen's story. OR here is the Good News

One is that when we feel as though life is overwhelming us, by gazing to heaven, Jesus gives us a better vision of life. 

Another is that when we are engaged in a ministry caring for or defending the oppressed, Jesus empowers us through our faithfulness.