Call to Discipleship

In Acts 2-4, it is established that the church all lives in one union and one accord, sharing all that they have and distributing equally amongst themselves. We move to Acts 6. The women of the Hellenistic Jews begin to complain that they are being neglected in the distribution of food and goods. The apostles reply that they cannot “leave the word of God and serve tables”. Meaning, they can’t distribute the goods while attending sufficiently to their focus on prayer, teaching, and ministry at the same time. So, they tell the people to choose among themselves seven men who can fill this position in fulfilling these needs among the people. The seven chosen were Stephen, described as a “man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.”, along with other men named Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas. These seven men were brought before the apostles, who therewith ordained them with the laying on of hands. This resulted in a great multiplication of faith, spreading of the word, number of disciples, and obedience among the people and priests of the church. Stephen, namely, is recorded to be “full of faith and power” and to have worked “great wonders and miracles among the people”.

Stephen vs The Synagogue of the Libertines

After all this was done, a certain synagogue named The Synagogue of the Libertines (aka The Synagogue of the Freedmen) stood up against Stephen and began to dispute with him. These men were former Jewish slaves who were freed by Rome or some other part of the empire who then returned to Jerusalem. Hence their title. Though they attempted to debate with him, they could not handle the utter wisdom he spoke by the power of the holy spirit. So, they secretly instigated that some to speak falsely, accusing him to speak blasphemously against God and Moses. They then set up false witnesses, saying that he blasphemed that holy land and the law, speaking of Jesus destroying that land and the law of Moses. Which is resemblant of the trial of Jesus in the courtyard of the High Priest. The council and all who looked upon him beheld his face, with scripture describing that “it had been the face of an angel”.

The Speech, Vision, and Stoning of Stephen

Stephen then begins his response to this affair. He recounts the history of Israel, beginning from Abraham unto Moses, then speaking of Christ. He chastises the council of the Libertines for their ignorance and hard-headedness, saying: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” After all of this, the council were cut to the core and furious with Stephen for his words. At the same time, Stephen, being filled with the Holy Spirit, looks up into the heavens and sees “the glory of God”, exclaiming to see God with Jesus standing on the right side of him. At that moment, the people scream out, covering their ears, and rush towards Stephen, grabbing hold of him and throwing him out of the city, then stoning him in a rage of fury. Stephen calls upon God, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” as the blows land hard, stone after stone, beating him to the ground, he then falls to his knees and exclaims, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge”, and then dies as the first martyr, dying in the name of Christ and his church.

Lessons from the Discipleship of Stephen

Stephen was a true follower of Christ. He spoke boldly and loudly, not afraid to speak the utter truth and to necessarily rebuke those who needed rebuking. He knew the scriptures and the history of his forefathers. He lived as such to be worthy enough to carry the power of the holy spirit, healing, preaching and teaching. Even in the face of contention and risk of his freedom or well-being, he didn’t back down or squirm a bit. He stood tall, spoke the truth, and rebuked those who opposed Christ. Stephen followed Christ all the way even till his death. He was willing to give up his life for Christ, and he did. And even during a stoning, bashed, beaten, bloody, surrounded and trounced, he followed the example of Christ, showing he truly emulated Godly values. With his very last breath, he called upon God for the reception of his soul, forgiving those who slain him. It is expedient for us that we learn from Stephen and emulate these same traits. Stephen was an honorable disciple, a saint full of power and holiness. And now, because of his faithfulness to Christ, he has been marked down in history as one of Christ’s most faithful disciples. May we all learn from his story and be true and faithful to the Lord our God, with our entire being. For this life is worth nothing if not a life in service of him. For as it is written by the great apostle Paul, “to live is Christ, to die is gain”. May we live for Christ or die to be with him.

God bless. Amen.