Heroes and Villains
Opening Prayer
Praise God today that you are greatly loved and cherished by him. Ask to be able to return his love.
Read Acts 7:54-8:3
[54] When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. [55] But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. [56] “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” [57] At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, [58] dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. [59] While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [60] Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. [1] And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. [2] Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. [3] But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How might Stephen's final prayer sound familiar?It has been his defense speech, but rather than speak about himself, Stephen has spoken of the glory of Jesus. He has held the Temple and the Law in the highest regard by lifting up Jesus, the one in whom both exist. He has truly made himself less, so that Christ may be seen (John 3:30). Stephen dies in a blaze of glory (though not his own!), seeing before him his welcome into heaven (56). I imagine that as he entered heaven, Stephen was greeted by Jesus with words like those in Matthew 25:21: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” I’ve always found that to be a great motivation to live for God’s glory. As Stephen dies, a new character is introduced. Luke, the author of Acts, draws our attention to Saul, who is to be the next focus of his narrative. It would seem that the purpose of this introduction, juxtaposing him with a great hero like Stephen, is to highlight what a villain he is (7:58; 8:1,3). If you were reading this episode in a novel, you’d never guess how the tale is about to take a dramatic twist.
Apply
Ask yourself: If you were to die today, what words of welcome would you expect to hear from Jesus?
Closing prayer
Lord, I pray to live and die faithfully like Stephen so I can also be Your “good and faithful servant.”
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