Stephen, the Valiant

And in those days…

When the number of the disciples was multiplied…

Seven faithful men were chosen…

for service in the minstry…

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. Acts 6:2-3 

And they chose Stephen…

a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost…

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. Acts 6:6 

And the word of God increased…

And the number of the disciples…

multiplied in Jerusalem greatly…

and  a great company of the priests …

were obedient to the faith!

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.   Acts 6:7-8

Forthwith…

contention arose from the synagogue…

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.  Acts 6:9 

And God filled him with wisdom…

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Acts 6:10

So they incited men…

Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.  Acts 6:11 

And stirred up people…

And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,  Acts 6:12 

And gathered false witnesses…

And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:  For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.  Acts 6:13-14  

Unscrupulous. Fraudulent. Reprobate.

They  brought him before the counsel…

and God was with him…

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.  Acts 6:15 

Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

Acts 7:1

And Stephen preached…

and reminded them of their history…

And their idolatries…

And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?  Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.   Acts 7:41-43 

And rebellion…

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.  Acts 7:51 

And unbelief…

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:  Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.   Acts 7:52-53 

Their hearts were pierced through…

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.  Acts 7:54 

Agitation. Conviction. Defiance.

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost…

looked up stedfastly into heaven…

and saw the glory of God…

and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened,

and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  Acts 7:55-56

Unable to tolerate his powerful witness and testimony…

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him…Acts 7:57 -58

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.  Acts 7:59-60 

They could not explain his great wonders and miracles…

They could not resist his wisdom….

They could not discredit his witness...

They could not withstand his testimony…

Perplexed. Irrational. Uncontrolled.

They stoned him.

Stephen was  martyred….

For his witness and testimony….

Of Jesus Christ!

Are you ready?

Saul, Transformed!

In the beginning…

He was very zealous….

to eradicate Christians…

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.  Acts 8:3 

Saul was vehemently opposed to them…

and diligently sought to destroy them…

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.  Acts 9:1-2 

Until…

He was intercepted…

By a supernatural encounter…

with Jesus Christ!

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  Acts 9:3-5

Bewilderment. Trepidation. Fear.

 Astonishment. Conviction. Obedience.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.  Acts 9:6

Saul was blinded…

                                and  his companions were speechless…

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.  Acts 9:7-9

Meanwhile…

God was speaking to His servant…

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.  Acts 9:10-12 

Preparing his heart to assist Saul…

a well known “enemy of the Saints”…

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.  Acts 9:13-16 

Help was on the way…

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.  And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.  Acts  9:17 -19

Saul was a new man…

as evidenced by his drastic change in heart…

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.  Acts 9:20 

People were stunned  and amazed…

and God was with him…

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.  Acts 9:22  

Convincing. Persuasive. Impressive.

Saul preached so effectively….

that the Jews sought to kill him…

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.  Acts 9:23-24 

The hunter became the hunted…

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

Acts 9:25 

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.  Acts 9:29 

Nevertheless…

Emboldened with the TRUTH…

He pressed onward…

Towards the high calling of Christ Jesus!

A supernatural encounter with the Living God…

Ignited one darkened heart …

 
And set it ablaze…

As a bold witness of His transforming power!

 

Have you been transformed by His hand?