Devotionals
Acts 7:60
KJV - And he kneeled down. and cried with a loud voice, Lord lay not this sin to their charge. And when he said this he fell asleep.
NIV - Then, he fell on his knees and cried out," Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he said this, he fell asleep.
The martyrdom of Stephen reminds us of Christ words on the cross; "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." What precipitated his murder was his truthful chastisement of those who claimed to love God, but did not. There was so much going on at this pivotal time, it is hard to grasp. The Word of God penetrated in to the hearts of those he addressed and the truth of the words he spoke drove them to kill him. The truth hurts.
Stephen saw into heaven, the only time mentioned in the Bible that Jesus is standing at the right hand of God. He kneeled and pled that the sin of his murder not be laid to the charge of those murdering him. He died in peace and went to the Savior for whom he died. Nearby, a ruthless zealot watched as he held the cloaks of those throwing the stones.
His name was Paul and we can only imagine the impact of Stephen's murder would have when he devoted His life to Christ. After writing 13 or 14 books of the New Testament, I can picture him in Rome as he laid down his head before a Roman axe with a smile on his face and the vision of the young man's death in Jerusalem. In many ways, he followed the path of the martyred young man more than thirty years earlier.
As for dear Stephen's words, we should plead for mercy for sinners. It is not for us to condemn them and we may very well see the sinner today is the martyr tomorrow. God does not give up on us. Nor should we give up on His wayward children. Present the truth - first and foremost, that Christ is the only begotten Son of God and He died for our sins that we may inherit eternal life. He is the way, the truth, and the light. Hands for cloaks and throwing stones may become hands that guide others to Christ standing ready with open arms.
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