June 1, 2020
Stephen, Reflection of Christ
Acts 7:54–60
Sharon Ridenour
Central Truth
Those in Christ need not fear. In every circumstance, including persecution, trust in the Lord.
Key Verse | Acts 7:55-56
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
Acts 7:54–60
The Stoning of Stephen
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, 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 he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together 1 7:57 Or rushed with one mind at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Dive Deeper | Acts 7:54–60
This vivid account paints a beautiful picture, as we see Stephen looking heavenward into the face of Jesus and then lay down his life willingly. Without a word of protest, he asked, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" This was just as Jesus had done for those who crucified Him.
Stephen was daily abiding with Christ, filled with the Spirit, faith, grace, and power (Acts 6:5, 8). The Lord had proven to Stephen that He could be trusted. Stephen didn't worry for his life. Even as the enraged mob began to hurl the stones, Stephen called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:59) When we are abiding with Jesus, we are made strong and fearless (John 15:5; Philippians 4:13).
Throughout my life I have enjoyed many blessings. I have also experienced the loss of three siblings and both parents, which has at times been difficult to endure. By God' s grace, at around age eight, I understood the gospel. I accepted His free gift of grace and know that I have eternal life with Him. I know Jesus can be trusted with every moment. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3)
Trials have helped me keep my eyes on Jesus. I sometimes question why or what exactly He is doing and wish I had answers to all the unknowns. But I look forward to the moment when I see the face of Jesus, and I won't have a single question. When Stephen saw the heavens open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, I imagine that this was the moment that Stephen understood everything.
Discussion Questions
1. What is your ultimate goal for your life as a Christian?
2. If you met Jesus right now, what would you want to have accomplished for Him? (For a practical application on this passage, check out Todd Wagner's message). What is keeping you from setting out to accomplish those things now?
3. Are you grieving the loss of a family member or friend? Consider participating in a grief recovery ministry like GriefShare. To listen to my Grief story, click here.