The Stoning of Stephen
Gospel Prompt
Do you think we can learn about Jesus from the story of Stephen, an innocent man who died praying for those who were persecuting him?
Read the Passage
Acts 7:51-60
51 [And Stephen said…] ”You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” 54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Find the Gospel in the Story
LISTEN TO THE STORY OF STEPHEN
Stephen was known to be man of great righteousness. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and blessed with remarkable wisdom. Through the power of God, he performed many wonders and signs among the people.
However, Stephen’s enemies secretly conspired against him. They convinced the people, the elders, and the scribes to bring Stephen to trial before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Council in Jerusalem. During the trial, false witnesses charged Stephen with blasphemy against the temple and the law. Although Stephen was innocent, he was condemned to death by stoning.
In response, Stephen charged the religious leaders of Jerusalem with guilt for persecuting the prophets of God, just as their fathers had done. He concluded his address before the Sanhedrin by exclaiming, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Immediately, Stephen was taken outside of the city gate to be executed. As Stephen was about to die, he prayed two prayers of the cross. He asked the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. Then he cried out with a loud voice on behalf of those who were persecuting him, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”
In the end, Stephen’s suffering was rewarded with great glory. His death led to the conversion and salvation of the apostle Paul. Paul would go on to have a glorious ministry, preaching the gospel of salvation to the peoples of the earth. By laying down his life, Stephen thus greatly advanced the spread of the gospel, giving life to many throughout the world.
DID YOU HEAR THE STORY OF JESUS?
Jesus was a divine man of great righteousness. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was the very Wisdom of God. Through the power of God, he performed many wonders and signs among the people.
However, Jesus’ enemies secretly conspired against him. The elders and scribes arranged to bring Jesus before the Sanhedrin, where false witnesses charged Jesus with blasphemy against the temple and the law. Although Jesus was innocent, he was condemned to death by crucifixion.
Jesus had already charged the religious leaders of Jerusalem with guilt for persecuting the prophets of God, just as their fathers had done. Now, in his address before the Sanhedrin, Jesus exclaimed, “The Son of Man will sit at the right hand of the power of God!”
Jesus was taken outside the city gate to be executed. As he was about to die, Jesus cried out with a loud voice on behalf of those who were persecuting him, “Father, forgive them! They know not what they do!” Then he asked God the Father to receive his spirit.
In the end, Jesus’ suffering was rewarded with great glory. When he rose from the grave in resurrection, Jesus commissioned the apostles to undertake glorious ministries, preaching the gospel of salvation to the peoples of the earth. By laying down his innocent life, Jesus thus made possible the spread of the gospel, giving life to many throughout the world.
