The First Martyr

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew five eight. Heavenly Father, we want to see you. We want to see your glory revealed in the beauty of creation, the wonder of your works, and the joy of relationships. Open our eyes to who you are, what your doing, and where you want to take us. Show us the splendor of your glory and the wonder of your character. Purify our hearts so we can see you with clear vision, untainted by the world, sin and apathy. Whatever is clouding our vision, remove it, whatever is hindering our ability to see you clearly, cleanse us from it. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us. Strip away the impurities that cloud our vision and hinder our relationship with You. Help us to focus on the things that are true, noble, righteous, and pure, so that our hearts may be a mirror of your own. We are grateful Lord for the grace that makes this transformation possible, and we pray that our lives will be a testament to the beauty of a pure heart. In Jesus name, Amen, thank you for praying with me to day. You are listening to the Jesus Podcast gospel stories retold with cinematic flare and honest reflection. Remain here for a gripping story about the stoning of Stephen. If this podcast has blessed you, consider sharing it with a friend. Doing so ensures that we can continue to make these stories. The Synagogue of the Freedman rested on a grassy hill slightly elevated above the east side of Jerusalem. Its pillars were carved from imported cypress wood, and the inside was immaculately adorned with tapestries and precious stones. The wealthier and more influential Jews attended the synagogue, many of the merchants and city officials. It was a perfect stage for Saul of Tarsus. Here he would begin his campaign against the followers of Jesus. He knew just how to sway them. The crowd arrived, eager to hear Saul speak. They gawked at him like a prince. Sauls soaked in the affection. Saul ceremoniously opened up the scroll of Micah and read, but. 00:03:08 Speaker 2: You bet Lehemapratha, though you are small among the clans, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from ancient times. 00:03:22 Speaker 1: Saul drew a deep breath and reasoned. 00:03:25 Speaker 2: With the crowd, there has been astir in the city of Jerusalem. What began as blasphemous whispers have turned into loud and annoying trumpets. There's a group of men and women who call themselves people of the Way. These people claim to follow the Messiah. As foretold by Moses and the Prophets, this so called Messiah was a carpenter from Nazareth. Nazareth. The prophets the Messiah will come from the lineage and city of David. He will come in power, glory, and majesty. He will come as a conquering king, no doubt, to overthrow the grip of Rome and restore us to Zion. But these people insist on worshiping a false prophet who worked with stone in the middle of nowhere Nazareth. Such men and women deserve a title fitting for how absurd their messiah seems. Maybe instead of calling them people of the Way, we should call them nazarenes Ha. 00:04:39 Speaker 1: Saul smiled as the crowd marked at the disciple's expense. He wore the arrogance of title and prow us proudly, Saul continued to teach and rile up the crowd against the followers of Jesus. This would be his strategy, travel from synagogue to synagogue, battling with rhetoric and charisma. He was at an advantage since no one matched him in knowledge, righteousness, or ability. Saul concluded his teaching and dismissed the people. 00:05:15 Speaker 3: Live boldly for your God, speak with conviction, serve those around you with passion, and when the persecution hits, don't back down, double down. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. Gospel inspired stories told with some cinematic flare and some honest reflection. Today we're diving into one of the most dramatic, powerful, and dare I say intense stories of the Book of Acts. It's a story of Stephen, a man whose life teaches us what it truly means to stand firm in faith, speak boldly, and face opposition without flinching. And trust me, Stephen's story isn't just for the history books. It's for us right here, right now. Followers of Christ trying to press into a culture that would try and thwart the God's. 00:06:03 Speaker 1: They left the synagogue and went into the courtyards. Many of them remained there to discuss what had just been taught. Saul expected most of the people to be gone by now for a meal under the shade, but instead a large crowd gathered at the corner of the courtyard. Some one stood among them, shouting and speaking with a passionate voice. Saul walked closer and saw that the man was none other than Stephen, a follower of the Way. Saul's rage was ignited when he heard Stephen proclaim the news about Jesus of Nazareth. Stephen spoke about Jesus life, death, and resurrection. He refuted Saul's assertion by saying Jesus was in fact born in Jerusalem, as the prophet Micah foretold. Many Pharisees argued with him, but Stephen's wit was too quick. Saul burst through the crowd before it got out of hand and shouted. 00:07:10 Speaker 2: Step down, Stephen, your blasphemy is not welcomed here. 00:07:14 Speaker 4: Brothers, I beg you to see with clear eyes this Jesus, whom we speak of, is the Messiah you've all been waiting for. 00:07:23 Speaker 1: Saul gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He pointed at Stephen with righteous fury. 00:07:30 Speaker 2: Your false Messiah hung on a cross in front of everyone. Moses himself said that anyone who hangs on a tree is considered cursed by God. 00:07:40 Speaker 1: Saul stepped forward, even more confident in his knowledge of scripture. 00:07:45 Speaker 2: If someone suffers in such a way and is considered cursed by God, how could he possibly be the Messiah. 00:07:52 Speaker 1: The crowd nodded their heads at Saul's response. 00:07:55 Speaker 4: Saul, surely you know it was Moses, the Prophets, and Dave who foretold the Messiah would suffer and be cursed. Your hatred for the Romans fuels your image of a conquering political king. The scriptures clearly tell us that the Messiah would come to suffer and be considered cursed on our behalf. Does not Isaiah say he was pierced for our transgressions? He was cursed for our iniquities. Upon him was the punishment that brought us peace. 00:08:25 Speaker 5: And by his wounds we are healed. 00:08:29 Speaker 4: Was it not the bronze serpent in the wilderness, a symbol of our sin being high and lifted up for all to gaze upon it and be healed? You have all such the scriptures? Surely you can see what I'm saying. It's true. 00:08:45 Speaker 1: Steven stepped closer to Saul. It was not a threat, but an invitation, an invitation to see clearly and think soberly. Saul did not take the invitation, but the crowd did. Stephen's words stirred them up. They respected Saul and his intellect, but loved Stephen for the purity of his heart. There was an undeniable gap between them, which made Saul seethe with anger. 00:09:22 Speaker 5: Jesus is alive. 00:09:24 Speaker 1: Stephen declared to the crowd. 00:09:26 Speaker 4: He is alive, and I am inviting you to come and join me in the building of his kingdom, a kingdom built on love and justice. 00:09:37 Speaker 1: The group walked past Saul and drew closer to Stephen. Saul stepped back and turned to the other Pharisees. They had to act quickly before Stephen converted every one there, so he came up with a plan. He and the other Pharisees began to whisper lies and false events into the people's ears. 00:10:00 Speaker 2: Did he just say the words of Moses no longer matter? I heard him claim that the temple should be destroyed. 00:10:06 Speaker 1: It didn't take long for the lies to have their effect. Saul watched as the crowd began to stir against Stephen. They yelled and cursed him, shouted for him to be arrested. Saul smiled, satisfied with himself. As the crowd raved against Stephen. They led him into the hall of polished Storms and shoved him before Anonius and the council. Saul removed himself from the crowd and took his place among the council. 00:10:38 Speaker 2: He is speaking against the temple and the law, he said. Jesus of Nazareth will return to destroy this place and our customs. 00:10:46 Speaker 1: They lied, but Stephen said nothing in his defense. He didn't resist or quarrel. He instead remained still as the people berated him. He was unusually calm for someone who was on trial. Saul noticed that he had the same confidence as Peter and John when standing before the council. The threat of prosecution did not affect these Nazarenes. Anonius, adorned with his breastplate of gold and jewels, gazed down at Stephen. The High priest was indignant and ready to rain down curses. He drew a deep breath to rage against Stephen, but something caused him to pause. The High priest was frozen in terror as he looked upon the Nazarene. For a moment, the veil between the spiritual and physical realms was pulled back, and he saw the face of an angel over Stephen. It was unlike anything Anonius had ever seen. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. The angel vanished, but the palpable presence of something supernatural remained. Annonaeas rose from his seat and pointed down at him. 00:12:17 Speaker 4: Are these things true? Are you claiming Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah? 00:12:25 Speaker 1: The room was held in suspense as Stephen gathered his thoughts. He peered up where Saul was seated, and then back at the high Priest. He drew a deep breath. 00:12:37 Speaker 4: Brothers, Father's men of Israel, hear me. 00:12:42 Speaker 1: Stephen began with his arms stretched out wide. His voice was controlled. He did not quiver or crack under the angry mob's intense glares for the council's indignant presence, He was resolute, set on something unseen. 00:13:03 Speaker 4: Allow me for a moment to remind us of where we came from. Long ago, the God of Heaven and Earth appeared to Abraham when he was settled in Mesopotamia, your way, called out to him with an invitation, Go out from the land of your kin and step into the land that I have promised you. Abraham stepped out in faith, and God led him to the land, the very land. 00:13:29 Speaker 5: On which you stand on today. 00:13:31 Speaker 4: Yet this land was not the true inheritance God promised. No, there was something greater. God promised him descendants that would outnumber the stars in the sky. First came Isaac, then Jacob, and from Jacob the twelve Patriarchs. 00:13:51 Speaker 2: We do not need a history lesson from you, Stephen. 00:13:54 Speaker 4: These twelve patriarchs, much like the men we followed today, were imperfect and flawed. Consumed by jealousy, they sold their youngest brother, Joseph, into slavery. But God was with Joseph. He rescued him from prison. He gave him favor before Pharaoh. 00:14:13 Speaker 5: He was made ruler over Egypt at a. 00:14:15 Speaker 4: Time when the world needed him most. It was a time when our forefathers were starving and would die without food. But Joseph made a way for them. Joseph, a favored son betrayed by his brothers, had sold for thirty pieces of silver, delivered them in their time of need, does that sound familiar to any of you? 00:14:39 Speaker 1: Counsel Stephen looked at the council to see if they could make the connection between Jesus and Joseph. Judas had sold Jesus out of the Sanhedrin for thirty pieces of silver, but the council was too prideful to see the connection. So Stephen continued. 00:14:58 Speaker 4: The people multiplied and he and there arose another pharaoh who enslaved our forefathers. He dealt cruelly with our race and killed our infants. It was out of this chaos that the Great Moses was born. He was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and lived as a prince among slaves. He was a king in some ways and a slave in others, but God destined him to be an advocate, a bridge between poverty and royalty. He killed an Egyptian in defense of an Israelite brother, but they still did not accept him as one of their own. Out of fear, he left, and after wandering in the wilderness as a shepherd, God appeared to him. Engulfed in fire was the voice of God calling out to him, I am the God of your father's Abraham, Isaac Jacob, I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries. I have come to delivered them, and so I'm sending you Moses. 00:16:04 Speaker 1: As Stephens spoke, the crowd momentarily forgot about their hatred for him. He was so eloquent and knowledgeable that he gripped their attention. 00:16:15 Speaker 4: They rejected Moses before they scoffed at him. 00:16:18 Speaker 5: They said, who made you ruler over us? 00:16:22 Speaker 4: This man God sent as a ruler and a judge was rejected. But that did not stop him. He led them out of slavery. He performed wonders and signs before them. Plagues descended from heaven, the Red Sea parted. He received the oracles of God and imparted them onto the people. The same law you hold so dearly was given by Moses, an outcast. And even after all this, the people still rejected Moses, and they still rejected God. After all God had done from them, they thrust him aside like rubbish and asked for another God to worship. They made one from gold and jewels. They always reject God and his leaders. They always turned from Him. All throughout our history, our forefathers ignored God for their self righteousness and sin, as it is written in the prophet Amos, Did you bring me sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, Oh Israel. No, you took up the idols and the images you made to worship, and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon. Our forefathers did not just have miracles from Moses. They also had the Tabernacle. They had the manifest presence of God himself. 00:17:56 Speaker 5: Then, to make God. 00:17:57 Speaker 4: Even more present among us, Solomon built the temple. 00:18:03 Speaker 1: Stephen paused and looked up to the council, his eyes watered with passionate tears. 00:18:10 Speaker 4: Here's the key for all of us, men of Israel. The Most High God is not confined to buildings made by men. 00:18:18 Speaker 5: Look around you. These holes do not constrain our God. 00:18:26 Speaker 4: The prophet isaiahs said, heaven is my throne, and the earth's my footstool. 00:18:32 Speaker 5: What kind of house will you build for me? 00:18:35 Speaker 4: Where is the place I find rest? 00:18:38 Speaker 5: Have I not made everything that is? 00:18:42 Speaker 1: The council shifted in their seats, growing angrier by the second. Stephen's prose enraptured the crowd. He spoke with an angel's eloquence and a prophet's passion, Stephen's grip tightened. Something shifted in Stephen like a changing wind before a storm. His eyes darted up at the council, and he raised his voice like a trumpet, shouting, you. 00:19:14 Speaker 5: You stiff necked people. You are circumcised in the flesh, but. 00:19:20 Speaker 4: Your heart is far from godjoy hears our close to the truth, and your eyes are blinded. 00:19:27 Speaker 5: How long will you resist the Holy Spirit? 00:19:31 Speaker 4: Will you continue in the sins of your forefathers and reject God for the idolatry of religion? Your ancestors killed every prophet that proclaimed the coming Messiah, and you have followed in their footsteps by murdering the Messiah himself. 00:19:49 Speaker 1: Stephen opened his hands to them and pleaded, you. 00:19:54 Speaker 4: Have the gift of the Law placed in your hands, but have not truly searched its meaning. 00:20:00 Speaker 5: God is offering you a chance to see and believe. 00:20:06 Speaker 4: Believe. I beg you to see for your own souls and. 00:20:11 Speaker 5: The souls of these people. 00:20:13 Speaker 1: Silence, Annonaeus shouted. He was fuming and foaming at the mouth and anger. The rest of the Sanhedron and Saul stood to their feet and cursed him. Whatever remained of the high priest patience had been wiped away. 00:20:31 Speaker 4: Get him out of my sight, take him out, and kill him for what he said. 00:20:37 Speaker 1: The crowd wrapped Stephen up in a violent rage and carried him out. There was no declaration of guilt, no trial before Roman authorities, no sentencing of death. There was only rage, a rage fueled by guilt, shame, and prideful dogma. Stephen was dragged through the city by his feet. The back of his neck and head ground against the rocky path as they took him outside the gates to the Rock of execution. The jagged stone loomed over the crowd like a giant. The bottom was stained red from executions of the past. Saul remained behind the crowd, quietly watching the scene unfold, like he was attending a play he had ridden. The men threw off their coats and placed them at Saul's feet. He held the coats and beheld the chaos. The elders picked up jagged stones and held them over their heads. One by one, they surrounded Stephen and spat out curses. The stage was set for Stephen to meet his end, But to Stephen, it wasn't the end. He stood beneath the stone with his head postured toward heaven. All was still for a moment. Stephen drew a deep breath and locked his gaze upward. His eyes widened as if he was seeing someone looking down at him from above. The grin curled on the sides of Stephen's face. His jaw began to shake, and tears of joy fell gently down his cheeks. As the crowd raged and cocked their arms back to cast their stones, Stephen. 00:22:40 Speaker 4: Spoke, I see him. 00:22:44 Speaker 1: Child Like glee tumbled out of Stephen's voice. Although he was about to meet his end. Stephen's heart melted with unhinged joy. I see him, opened his arms. 00:23:01 Speaker 4: I see the heavens open, and the son of Man standing at the right and of God. 00:23:07 Speaker 1: The purity of Stephen's heart opened his eyes to see that he wasn't alone. Jesus was standing, leaning forward and attentive to him. The first man lifted his stone and hurled it at Stephen's ribs. He fell to his knees and gasped, coughing up blood. No one laughed, no one mocked. They were filled with too much hate to enjoy the moment. Another stone was chucked at Stephen, hitting him in the jaw. He screamed in pain, but kept his gaze fixed on the sky through the clamoring. A prayer spilled out of Stephen's limp jaw, Lord Jesus, he said, with blood spilling out of his mouth, receive my spear. The crowd was determined to end it quickly. A shower of jagged stones descended upon Stephen, hitting his head, legs, and body. Stephen couldn't move. His face was nearly unrecognizable, his limbs were falling off his body and blood stained the earth beneath him. But even amid the onslaught, wallowing in a puddle of his death, Stephen managed to cry out a final prayer from the bottom of his belly. Stephen billowed to the heavens, yelling, Lord, did not. 00:24:45 Speaker 4: Hold this sin against them, Please forgive them. 00:24:50 Speaker 1: And as he said these things, a final stone crushed his head and ended the euphoric rage. Like animals hovering over their slain prey, they spat down at him and turned away from the body with self righteous pleasure. One by one, they took their coats back from Saul and left. Saul was the last to leave. He stood over Stephen's lifeless and bloody corpse and sneered. He turned his back to him and marched back to the city. For that entire month, Saul refused to look up. He was afraid of what Stephen saw before dying. 00:25:59 Speaker 3: So far, we've met Stephen, and we know that Stephen was not one of the apostles. He wasn't a pastor or a preacher. He was a deacon, a man appointed to serve tables and make sure widows were fed. But don't let his humble beginnings fool you. Acts six' eight tells us That stephen was full of faith and, power and he did great wonders and signs among the. People stephen's ministry wasn't limited by his, Title it was fueled by his. Faith, now the religious leaders couldn't Handle. Stephen he was out there boldly Proclaiming, jesus and they just didn't know what to do with. Him they tried to argue with, him but it didn't go very. Well verse ten says that they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he. 00:26:37 Speaker 1: Spoke. 00:26:37 Speaker 3: Translation stephen was dropping truth bombs left and, right and his, opponents Especially, saul were left stammering and red. Faced since they couldn't beat him in a fair, debate they did what people often do when they're. Losing they. Cheated they secretly induced men to, lie Accusing stephen of speaking blasphemous words Against moses And god and claiming that he wanted to destroy the temple in the. Law does that sound familiar the same playbook used On. Jesus when you stand for, truth don't be surprised when you're accused of all sorts of. Things people often use lies to combat the. Truth But stephen didn't back. Down in, fact when he was driven before The, sanhedrin his face shone like that of an. Angel and this wasn't a, soft glowing face of a. Cherub, no this was the face of a man who had been in the presence Of, god radiating with, confidence, peace and a touch of try me if you. Dare when given the chance to defend, Himself stephen didn't go for the let me clear up the misunderstanding. Approach, no he launched into the most epic sermon in The. Bible he gave The sanhedrin a history lesson From abraham To moses To, david all to make one prevailing. Point you have always Resisted god's, messengers and now you're doing it again With. Jesus stephen's sermon wasn't a, defense it was a prophetic. Confrontation he pointed out That god isn't limited to a building or a set of. Rituals he said, this the most eye does not dwell in temples made with. Hands god is bigger than our, traditions our, buildings and our limited. Understandings after, This stephen goes for the. Jugular he, says, you stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and, ears you always resist The Holy. Spirit stephen didn't mince. Words he knew his, audience he knew the. Stakes just as they had rejected the prophets, before they were now Rejecting jesus and the apostles that would proclaim his. Gospel, predictably The sanhedrin didn't take too kindly to. This they were cut to the, heart but instead of, repenting they gnash their. Teeth my, friends this is what happens in the face of. Conviction when we're convicted of the, truth and when we're called out for our sins and our, shortcomings we can go in two different. Directions, one we can be cut to the, heart and we can, repent and we can, apologize and we can turn the other. Way or. Two when we're cut to the, heart we can decide to harden ourselves and make a defense for ourselves and lash out in. Return The pharisees chose the. Latter they Dragged stephen out into the outskirts of, town and as they were stoning, Him stephen declared that the glory Of god could be, seen and he Saw jesus standing at the right hand Of. God did you catch That jesus was? Standing throughout scripture we See jesus sitting at the right hand Of. God but here he's. Standing. WHY i like to think that it's because he's Giving stephen a standing. Ovation he's turning up with, attention welcoming the first martyr of the church. Home as the stones, Flew stephen Prayed, Lord jesus received my, spirit and, then Echoing jesus on the, cross he, Prayed, lord forgive them for what they. Do even in his, Death stephen showed love and grace to his, enemies and with that he fell, asleep entering the presence of his, Savior my, Friends the story Of stephen challenges us to, ask are we ready to stand firm in our faith even when it costs. Us stephen's courage wasn't because he was a. Superhero it was because when he was filled with The Holy, spirit he decided to yield and to. Listen are we willing to be so filled With God's spirit that we can face any opposition with, grace speak the truth with, boldness and see even death as a. Victory let's not just be hearers Of stephen's. Story let's be. Doers let's stand, Firm let's speak, boldly and when the world throws, stones let's pray Like stephen and live Like. 00:30:16 Speaker 1: Jesus