The first Christian martyr after Jesus was a man named Stephen. An angry mob killed him unlawfully. Throughout history, people have died the same way. In American history we call it a lynching. In the Middle Ages it was a pitchfork mob of everyday farmers who showed up to enforce their own version of justice. Mobs are always lawless and untrustworthy.
For Public Safety
During the French Revolution, the Committee of Public Safety orchestrated mass arrests and guillotine executions. Tens of thousands of people died. Eventually the committee’s own men arrested one of its leaders because they feared they might be next. Mobs are unjust and untrustworthy, but nothing new in history.
“But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.” Acts 7:57 ESV
The first Christian killed after Jesus died at the hands of a mob so angry they refused even to hear reason. They only wanted blood. How did it reach that point?
Stephen the Martyr
The church was growing and needed new leaders beyond the disciples. One of those leaders was a Greek Jew named Stephen.
“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’” Acts 6:8-11 ESV
Stephen must have been an impressive man. Scripture describes him as full of grace and power. He performed miracles and engaged in debate inside the synagogue. He made enemies not through violence or rudeness, but because they could not rebut the truth of his words and actions.
“A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.” Proverbs 25:18 ESV
These men lied about Stephen. That lie was an act of war. They used it to gather a mob. Stephen did not defend himself physically. He did not respond in kind. He kept telling the truth. The mob would not listen.
“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 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.’ 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.” Acts 7:54-60 ESV
They Shut Their Ears
A common pattern appears whenever God’s word confronts people. Some listen and repent. Others cover their ears and lash out because they prefer to stay in the dark and hide their evil.
“And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.’ But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 7:8-12 ESV
When truth comes to a culture, to those in power, or to your own home, what will the response be? Stephen testified to the power of Jesus. His logic was sound and his reasons justified. Those who refused made their hearts into stone. They could not be reasoned with, and that is okay. Stephen’s job was not to save them. His job was only to share the truth with them.
God Knows What He is Doing
Standing in that crowd of hard-hearted men was Saul. He witnessed everything. He took part in the death of a follower of Christ. Yet that death proved more powerful than any argument. Somewhere deep down, a seed was planted in Saul. Stephen did not need to save him. His death simply prepared the ground for the man who would become Paul and write a large portion of the New Testament.Standing in that crowd of hard-hearted men was Saul. He witnessed everything. He took part in the death of a follower of Christ. Yet that death proved more powerful than any argument. Somewhere deep down, a seed was planted in Saul. Stephen did not need to save him. His death simply prepared the ground for the man who would become Paul and write a large portion of the New Testament.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12 ESV
