A Great Persecution

Upon being cut to the heart by the truth of Stephen’s testimony, the crowds gnashed their teeth at him, covered their ears and drove him out of the city and stoned him to death. As the Spirit of God is at work in the lives of believers to convict the world of sin, righteousness and the judgment to come, people still cover their ears and gnash their teeth. When we bring attention to Jesus and our lives are a reflection of His, we can expect to be treated like Jesus. However, as Stephen gazed into the heavens as his life was fading away, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God ready to receive his spirit. In God’s divine irony, the very man cheering the violent death of Stephen would one day prove to be his successor as a great gospel preacher. Saul of Tarsus.