MARTYRDOM
Opening Prayer
Lord, forsaking You is out of the question.
Read ACTS 7:54 – 8:1a
The Stoning of Stephen
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.
8 And Saul approved of their killing him.
The Church Persecuted and Scattered
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
‘I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back’ (Chorus)!
Think Further
A speech like Stephen’s can have only one end: he courts death and death comes, as Barclay points out (William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 1976). The members of the Sanhedrin cover their ears, drag him out of the city, and stone him. Stephen’s death resembles the crucifixion of Jesus, his last words echoing Jesus’ own words from the cross (Luke 23:34).
Stephen was the first of many Christian martyrs throughout the centuries. The word comes from the Greek verb martyreo (to bear witness) – and the martyrs gave witness at the expense of their lives. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna in the second century, had been instructed by the apostles, especially John. He served faithfully and opposed heresy of any form. He was asked in his old age by the Roman authorities to disown Christ and say ‘Caesar is Lord’, but he refused, saying: ‘Eighty-six years I have served Him and He has done me no wrong. How can I forsake Him now?’ He was burned at the stake in AD 155, a voice from heaven calling out, ‘Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man.’
Many have witnessed for Christ by their death in the past two centuries. The missionary Graham Staines, working among people with leprosy in Bihar, was burnt with his two sons in his car by Hindu fundamentalists some years ago. His wife Gladys forgave the murderers, and many people said, ‘If this is Christianity, I want to know it.’ Nokseng, a Garo tribesman in North East India who accepted Christ, was asked to ‘Reject the faith in this foreign God’ by the village chief. He replied: ‘I have decided to follow Jesus. There is no turning back!’ His two sons and his wife were killed in front of him, but he refused to recant and was killed. His martyrdom led the Garos to become Christians. His statement has become a popular chorus. Will you stand for Christ whatever persecution you face?
Apply
We need faith and courage to follow Jesus no matter the cost.
Closing prayer
Lord, we understand that sometimes Your will is for persecution to descend upon Your church. Grant us the fortitude to withstand it.
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