Acts 7

“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him…But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:54, 57-60; ESV).”

Stephen was delighted to see Christ and the stones of these enraged men would simply serve as the vehicle to transport Stephen to Christ. Stephen died trusting, forgiving, and witnessing. Stephen trusted in the One who was faithful and he understood that his life was in His hands. He not only lived a life preaching forgiveness, he died seeking the forgiveness of his persecutors. Above all, his faithful witness for Christ struck these men to the heart so much so that they put him to death as they did Christ. Although, Stephen’s witness for Christ lived even in his death as the soon to be Apostle Paul saw what it meant to live and die for the sake of the Gospel. -East Point Church