Stephen’s Lasting Legacy

Acts 7: 56-60 ESV
“And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.  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. 

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”  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.”

First I want to point out that the Jewish Senate and Council were the elite of the elite for the Jews. In verse 54 they were so enraged with Stephen’s speech that they nashed at him with their teeth. These are primary elderly men nashing their teeth in anger. Then when Stephen said he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, they lost their minds and “they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.”

Can you pitcure the elite of the elite acting like children. Then they broke a Roman law by taking Stephen out and stoning him without a trial and conviction. But Stephen knew where this was all leading to and he was ready to meet his Savior face to face.

I have to point out something, Stephen said he saw Jesus [standing] at the right of God, not sitting. One can only assume Jesus was standing in support of Stephen. This gave Stephen the peace that he needed to give up his life and meet Jesus face to face.

Luke records that Stephen “fell asleep,” in death. We can say Stephen fell asleep on earth and woke up face to face with Jesus in heaven. That’s the way to part from this life to the next and Stephen’s testimony and legacy lives on 2000 years later.

Prayer:
Lord, the best I can hope for in this life is that I have a testimony that I love Jesus more than anything. All I can hope for, is that I can say, write or do something to turn souls to Jesus.