The Pure in Heart: The Stoning of Stephen

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5.8 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 you're doing, and where you want to take us. Show us the splendor of your glory and the wonder. 00:00:32 Speaker 2: Of your character. 00:00:35 Speaker 1: 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 today. You're listening to The Jesus Podcast, gospel stories retold with cinematic flair and honest reflections. 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 mountain hummed with power as Jesus spoke to the crowd. People were awed at the upside-down nature of his words. He was reframing what it meant to be blessed. It was backward, counter-cultural, but profoundly moving. 00:02:31 Speaker 3: Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they What does it mean to be pure of heart? 00:02:53 Speaker 4: Are those with pure hearts somehow blessed with spotless records? 00:03:20 Speaker 2: Without sin or scar to hinder their sight? Or does purity come from somewhere else, perhaps someone else? This is the Jesus Podcast, gospel stories told with cinematic flair and honest reflection. I'm Ethan, one of your hosts from Pray.com. If you've been a faithful follower of this podcast, we'd love it if you took a moment to leave a review and share it with a friend. These small things matter in the podcasting world. Thanks for supporting us and being a part of this community. We've been spending this new season connecting Jesus' Sermon on the Mount with other stories from the Bible. Our focus is on Matthew 5 verse 8 when Jesus declares, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. We will explore the meaning of this profound promise and how it is beautifully illustrated in the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, as recounted in Acts chapter 7, verses 54 through 60. 00:04:30 Speaker 1: 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 them 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. Saul soaked in the affection. Saul ceremoniously opened up the scroll of Micah and read, But. 00:05:28 Speaker 5: You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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. 00:05:42 Speaker 1: Saul drew a deep breath and reasoned. 00:05:45 Speaker 2: With the crowd. 00:05:47 Speaker 5: There has been a stir. 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 are clear. 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 worshipping 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. 00:06:59 Speaker 1: Saul smiled as the crowd mocked at the disciples' expense. He wore the arrogance of title and prowess 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. 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. Someone 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,'. 00:08:40 Speaker 5: Step down, Stephen! Your blasphemy is not welcomed here! 00:08:45 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. 00:08:53 Speaker 1: Saul gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He pointed at Stephen with righteous fury. 00:09:00 Speaker 5: 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. 00:09:10 Speaker 1: Saul stepped forward even more confident in his knowledge of Scripture. 00:09:15 Speaker 5: If someone suffers in such a way and is considered cursed by God, how could he possibly be the Messiah? 00:09:22 Speaker 1: The crowd nodded their heads at Saul's response. 00:09:25 Speaker 4: Saul, surely you know it was Moses, the prophets, and David 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. And by his wounds, we are healed. Was it not the. 00:09:50 Speaker 5: Stephen stepped closer to Saul. 00:09:51 Speaker 4: It was not a threat. 00:10:20 Speaker 1: 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. Jesus is alive, Stephen declared to the crowd. 00:10:56 Speaker 4: He is alive, and I'm inviting you to come and join me in the building of his kingdom, a kingdom built on love and justice. 00:11:07 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 everyone 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. 00:11:30 Speaker 5: Did he just say the words of Moses no longer matter? I heard him claim that the temple should be destroyed. 00:11:36 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 stones and shoved him before Ananias and the council. Saul removed himself from the crowd and took his place among the council. 00:12:08 Speaker 5: He is speaking against the temple and the law. He said Jesus of Nazareth would return to destroy this place and our customs. 00:12:16 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. Ananias, 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 Ananias had ever seen. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. The angel vanished, but the palpable presence of something supernatural remained. Ananias rose from his seat, and pointed down at him. 00:13:47 Speaker 4: Are these things true? Are you claiming Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah? 00:13:55 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. 00:14:07 Speaker 4: Brothers, fathers, men of Israel, hear me! 00:14:12 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 or the council's indignant presence. He was resolute, face set on something unseen. 00:14:33 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. Yahweh 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 on which you stand on today. 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. 00:15:21 Speaker 5: We do not need a history lesson from you, Stephen. 00:15:24 Speaker 4: These twelve patriarchs, much like the men we follow 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. He was made ruler over Egypt at a 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 and sold for 30 pieces of silver, delivered them in their time of need. Does that sound familiar to any of you, council? 00:16:10 Speaker 1: Stephen looked at the council to see if they could make the connection between Jesus and Joseph. Judas had sold Jesus out to the Sanhedrin for 30 pieces of silver. But the council was too prideful to see the connection. So Stephen continued. 00:16:28 Speaker 4: The people multiplied in Egypt 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 fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries. I have come to deliver them. And so I am sending you, Moses. 00:17:34 Speaker 1: As Stephen spoke, The crowd momentarily forgot about their hatred for him. He was so eloquent and knowledgeable that he gripped their attention. 00:17:45 Speaker 4: They rejected Moses before. They scoffed at him. They said, who made you ruler and judge over us? They rejected Moses before. They scoffed at him. They said, who made you ruler over us? 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, O Israel? 00:19:14 Speaker 2: No. 00:19:15 Speaker 4: 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. Then, to make God even more present among us, Solomon built the temple. 00:19:41 Speaker 1: Stephen paused and looked up to the council. His eyes watered with passionate tears. 00:19:47 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. Look around you. These halls do not constrain our God. The prophet Isaiah said, Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? Where is the place I find rest? Have I not made everything that is? 00:20:20 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. 00:20:51 Speaker 4: You stiff-necked people. You are circumcised into flesh, but your heart is far from God. Your ears are closed to the truth and your eyes are blinded. How long will you resist the Holy Spirit? 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. 00:21:27 Speaker 1: Stephen opened his hands to them and pleaded. 00:21:31 Speaker 4: You have the gift of the law placed in your hands, but have not truly searched its meaning. God is offering you a chance to see and believe. Believe, I beg you to see for your own souls and the souls of these people. 00:21:51 Speaker 2: Silence! 00:21:52 Speaker 1: Ananias shouted. He was fuming and foaming at the mouth in anger. The rest of the Sanhedrin and Saul stood to their feet and cursed him. Whatever remained of the high priest's patience had been wiped away. 00:22:09 Speaker 4: Get him out of my sight! Take him out and kill him for what he said! 00:22:14 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 written. 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. A 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 spoke. 00:24:20 Speaker 4: I see him. 00:24:22 Speaker 1: Childlike glee tumbled out of Stephen's voice. Although he was about to meet his end, Stephen's heart melted with unhinged joy. I. 00:24:37 Speaker 1: Stephen opened his arms. 00:24:39 Speaker 4: I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 00:24:45 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. 00:25:35 Speaker 4: Out of his mouth, receive my spirit. 00:25:38 Speaker 1: 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. 00:26:21 Speaker 4: Lord, do not hold this sin against them. 00:26:25 Speaker 1: Please forgive them. And as he said these things, a final stone crushed his head and ended. The crowd huffed in 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. 00:27:37 Speaker 2: Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Jesus speaks here of an inner purity, a heart that is undivided and wholly devoted to God. To be pure in heart means having sincere intentions, free from deceit and hypocrisy. It's about having a single-minded focus on God, desiring to live in a way that pleases Him. Jesus promises that Those who are pure in heart will see God, not just in the afterlife, but also in their daily experiences, recognizing His presence and work in their lives. As citizens of heaven, we are called to cultivate a pure heart, one that reflects the character of Jesus and allows us to perceive God more clearly. Now, let's turn to the story of Stephen. found in Acts 7, verses 54-60. Stephen, one of the first deacons, was known for his strong faith, wisdom, and fullness of the Holy Spirit. His powerful preaching and unwavering commitment to the gospel led to his arrest and trial before the Sanhedrin. Despite the hostility he faced, Stephen remained steadfast and pure in heart. In Acts 7, 54-60, we read, When the members of the Sanhedrin 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. dragged him out of the city, and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Jesus 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. Stephen's vision of heaven opened, and his ability to see Jesus standing at the right hand of God is a powerful testament to the promise of Matthew 5.8. His purity of heart enabled him to see God even in his final moments. When we look at the world with a pure heart, every circumstance changes. People are no longer villains with you as the victim. Stephen's response to his persecutors revealed a pure heart that clearly sees God moving in every moment. He prayed for their forgiveness, reflecting the depth of his pure heart and his alignment with God's will. Remember Jesus praying something similar while he hung on the cross? Since Stephen saw the world with a pure heart, he was able to capture moments to reflect Christ, even in a harsh and hostile environment. How can we, like Stephen, live out the values of being pure in heart as taught in Matthew 5, verse 8. First, we are called to seek God's presence. Like Stephen, we should seek to live in God's presence continually. This involves daily prayer, worship, and studying Scripture to keep our hearts focused on Him. Yet, this goes beyond the religious practices we've been taught since Sunday school. Seeking God's presence is akin to seeking His kingdom. Looking for areas in our lives where Jesus is moving and wanting us to move. Moments where we can show compassion, kindness, and justice. To seek God's presence is to bring God's presence. Wherever we are, whatever the time, no matter the circumstances. Second, we must cultivate sincerity. Being pure in heart means having sincere and genuine intentions. We should strive to be honest and transparent in every relationship, avoiding deceit or hypocrisy. We can get this one twisted. Sometimes we can do the right thing, but for the wrong reasons. Paul said that in 1 Corinthians 13 1-3. He said, If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. It is not enough to do the right thing. We must have the right intentions. That only comes when we've cultivated our hearts like a garden, pruning dead branches and pulling out weeds. That only comes when we've cultivated our hearts like a garden, cutting off dead branches and digging out weeds. We only become sincere people when we've done the hard work of working on our hearts. Third, we must maintain a focus on God. A pure heart is undivided and focused on God. We should prioritize our relationship with Him above all else, ensuring that our actions and decisions reflect our commitment to Him. Focusing on God is less about reading your Bible 24-7 and more about looking for areas where you can see His beauty, His blessings. It's often said that the opposite of worship is complaining. Those who focus on God find themselves unshackled by complaining because they see opportunities for beauty wherever they go. Lastly, and perhaps the most difficult, we must forgive others. Stephen's prayer for his persecutors demonstrates the purity of his heart. We too should forgive those who wrong us. reflecting God's grace and mercy. Easier said than done, right? We all carry wounds with us. We all bear the scars of those who've wounded us, abused us, or abandoned us. For Stephen, they were literal scars. How was he able to forgive? The answer is simple, but no less profound or difficult to practice. Stephen was able to see the bigger picture. You see, When you are the main character of this story, every slight against you is a main event. Every insult, argument, or passive-aggressive stare is an affront to the protagonist. But what if you aren't the main character of this story? What if you are one part in a much grander narrative? What if this was Christ's story? What if this was Jesus' story? and you were one of many followers bent on blessing the world with His love and His character. The slights of others would seem less important. In fact, their persecution reveals their deep need for a Savior. And since you're all about the mission, forgiveness and restoration are on the front of your mind instead of bitterness and revenge. As we reflect on Jesus' words, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. and the story of Stephen's vision and forgiveness, let us strive to cultivate purity in our own hearts. May we seek God's presence, live with sincerity, maintain our focus on Him, forgive others, and reflect Christ's character. Let us pray for the grace to be true citizens of heaven, living out the purity that allows us to see God in every aspect of our lives. Amen. Thanks again for listening to the Jesus Podcast. You know what to do. Like, subscribe, and share it with your friends. We'll see you next time as we dive into a love story between a young warrior and a captive beauty.