THE STONING OF STEPHEN

     There were twelve chosen to be apostles.  Their call was to preach and pray for the gospel, and to spread the good news.  The apostles knew and understood there was another side of the ministry, which was to serve the needs of the people.  This was the first separation in those called to preach and spread the gospel and those called to serve the people.  Those called to serve the people were called deacons, which in Greek is the same word for "to serve". 

The twelve apostles called the multitude to come together so they could share the other side of being an apostle.  That other side was the calling of deacons.  The apostles said, It is not our duty to leave the word of God and serve tables. Brethren you need to look among you for men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom and bring them before us so we can pick out seven to serve as deacons.  This pleased the whole crowd.  So they went their way and chose men from their communities and brought the men before the apostles.  From the men brought before them, the apostles chose Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch to be the seven deacons.  After the apostles picked the seven, they  prayed over the men and laid hands on them.  The Word of God spread and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem, and a great company of priests were obedient to the faith.  

One of the seven men chosen to be a deacon was Stephen, a man full of faith and power, who did great wonders and miracles among the people.  Then arose certain men of the synagogue of Libertarians (Freedmen), Cyrenians, Alexandians, Cilicia of Asia, disputing with Stephen.  They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which Stephen spoke.  They bribed men, which said they had heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. 

These witnesses stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes.  The people came upon Stephen, caught him, brought him before the council.  The elders, and scribes set up the false witness that said, this man does not cease to speak blas-phemous words against this Holy Place and the Law.  We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and change the customs, which Moses gave to us.  And those sitting in the council looking at Stephen's face and saw what looked like the face of an angel.  Then said the High Priest to Stephen, are these things so? 

Stephen said, men, brethren and fathers listen, The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran.  God told him to get out of his country, and from his relatives, and come into a land which  HE God) shall show you!   Stephen went on to say, You stiffed-necked and uncir-cumsised in the heart and ears, has always resisted the Holy Ghost, as your fathers did, so do you.  You have received the law by directions of angels, and have not kept them.  When the council heard what Stephen was saying, they were furious at him and cut in the heart. 

But Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost and looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God.  He said I saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God.  I saw the heavens open, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  They cried out with loud voices and stopped their ears.  They ran upon him and cast him out of the city, and stoned him.  The false witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.  As they stoned him he called out to God saying, Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit.  Then he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, LORD, lay not this sin to their charge.  Those were his last words and then he fell asleep (died). 

Stephen was faithful to GOD till the end of his life.  Even as they stoned him, he called out to his God to forgive those who had stoned him.  


Written by Connie Johnston James, May 4, 2025     


Bibliography:   
1.  KJV Version of the Bible, Book of Acts Chapters 6 and 7.
2.  A devotion written by Frances Taylor.  Her scripture reading was taken from 
     from Acts 6:2-4. 



     

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