Unstoppable God. Acts 6:8-11, 7:1, 7:51-60

Everything is going pretty well for the early church. They were growing exponentially. Peter saw thousands come to follow Jesus after he preached his first sermon, and the growth was not slowing. Then, seemingly the worst possible thing happens, one of them is killed. Stephen, one of the men chosen to help keep peace in the Christian camp in regards to food distribution, is stoned by the Jews. Fear seizes these new followers of “The Way”. All of a sudden their lives are at stake. Surely this would quench the growth of the church. Surely this would put an end to this new religion that follows this man Jesus of Nazareth. Is there any way the church could benefit from such a horrible act?

When God is in charge and is building his church, nothing will slow it down. The killing of Stephen, did nothing but serve to grow the church. The followers of Christ were spread throughout the whole area, and guess what? Instead of hindering the growth of Christianity, Stephen’s death actually served to send out thousands of missionaries into the ancient world, all proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ – now a name worth dying for. God’s church was unstoppable.

Acts 6:8-11, 7:1, 7:51-60
Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called). These men began to argue with Stephen but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God….

(7:1)Then the high priest asked him, are these charges true?...

(7:51-60) 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."

When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

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.