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The Stoning of Stephen

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While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:59-60)

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As more and more people attended the Jerusalem church, seven deacons were set up. They all served God well and were full of the Holy Spirit.

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Stephen, one of the seven, in peculiar was very excellent in preaching about Jesus. He never lost arguments with people who opposed Jesus and told them about Jesus correctly.

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At that time, the Jews living in Jerusalem did not want many people to believe in Jesus. They considered Stephen a thorn in their side. So they made up a plan to kill Stephen.

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So they brought up bad people and had them lie about Stephen.
"Say that Stephen insulted Moses and God."

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They marched Stephen off to the Sanhedrin.
The place where the Jews judged every kind of problem.
The people brought Stephen there and charged a crime against him.

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As they had promised, they lied about Stephen. "This man always insults the holy temple and the law. We have heard that this man has said that Jesus will tear down this place and change the laws of Moses."

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The high priest asked Stephen, "Did you really say so as these people have said?" When Stephen heard this, Stephen thought that this would be a great time to talk about Jesus to the many people gathered around, so he began to reply.

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Since the Holy Spirit was with Stephen, he smoothly explained about the Bible. "You did not accept the promised man who had come to the earth found in the Bible. Therefore, you killed Jesus because you did not notice him."

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When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

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Stephen received great power from this so he began to speak in a louder voice,

"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

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At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragging him out of the city.

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They began to stone him. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

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Stephen died a martyr's death while preaching about Jesus so he went to Jesus in heaven.

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Stephen thought that preaching correctly about Jesus was more important than his own life. He considered Jesus to be the most precious man. He preferred Jesus over his life.

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We should learn from Stephen's faith. We should have faith in Jesus to say that he is our most precious man. I hope that you will become nice friends who please God.