When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. (Acts 7:54–8:1, NRSV)
Stephen enraged the High Council so much that they drug him outside of the city and threw their cloaks at the feet of Saul and stoned Stephen as he prayed for Jesus to receive his spirit. Stephen was the first Christian Martyr.
I wonder would we hold our faith so sure that we would die for it?
Are there things that we believe so unswervingly that we are willing to die for them?
Is your faith in Christ one?
And notice the one who kept the cloaks is Saul, the man who is also known as Paul and later becomes the greatest proponent of the Christian faith…
aSacredRebel 