August 2nd - Acts 7:59-60

Acts 7:59-60 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 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. Stephen was one of the seven men who were appointed to handle the distribution of food to the widows. Chapter 7 reveals that he was also a very fine preacher. He delivered a careful exposition of Old Testament history, which showed that God had repeatedly raised up deliverers of His people and the Jews had systematically rejected them. Now, they had murdered the righteous one, Jesus Himself. The sermon did not go down well. Stephen’s Jewish audience was infuriated and shook their fists at him. They covered their ears, yelled at the top of their voices and rushed at him, dragging him out of the city where they stoned him to death. He was the first Christian martyr. As he died, Stephen used words that remind us of what Jesus had said as He’d breathed His last. However, his words were interestingly different. Jesus had placed Himself in His Father’s hands, and now Stephen asked Jesus to receive his spirit. He clearly recognised that Jesus was God Himself. His final words were to ask the Lord not to charge his murderers with their sin. They were words of mercy and grace, which are further evidence of how wise and full of the Holy Spirit Stephen was. Question What do you learn from Stephen’s example? Prayer Lord God our Father, I pray today for those who risk their lives out of their love for You. Fill them with Your Spirit and give them the strength to face every challenge. Amen