the stoners
Stephen one of the seven chosen by the people, at the request of the apostles appears before the sanhedrin. the end of acts 6 and the begining of acts 7 describe when stephen was brought before the cousel by the crowd he was teaching and debating with. when the sanhedrin ask him about this, he begins to tell their whole history, as jews. the very last thing he says is:
“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.” [Acts 7: 51-53]
thats pretty fiery language!
that’s “get-you-stoned” language, and not the in the “bill and ted” kind of way. so that’s what happens. Stephen is taken outside the city walls and stoned. but he does something magical whilst being stoned, he begins to pray.
not only does he pray for himself, but he prays for the people stoning him! can you imagine what it feels like to be stoned? has anyone ever thrown something at you? can you imagine a whole crowd violently stoneing you to death? he pryas for them, the stoners! what does he pray for? he asks God to FORGIVE THEM!
wow.
is this reminiscent of someone? our savior said similar words while he was hanging on the cross.
“father forgive them…”
to have that kind of selfless attitude when you could rightfully be praying for their destruction says something about the kind of people Christ followers should be.
quick to forgive.
slow to anger.
quick to show grace and mercy.
how well is that modeled in our lives?
i know i have some thinking to do…
-A