Apostles Martyrdom, 6of6

~ Early Christians Martyred: 6th Step ~

 

Introduction ~ In the early chapters of the Book of Acts we see a typical pattern leading to martyrdom of an Apostle: 1-Jailed, 2-Commanded, 3-Threatened, 4-Imprisioned, 5-Beatings, and finally 6-Death – promoted to paradise!

 

Jailed (Step 1) ~ First they were seized followed by jailing.

 

Commanded (Step 2) ~ Secondly, they were commanded to stop telling people about Jesus.

 

Threatened (Step 3) ~ They were threatened, but let go.

 

Imprisoned (Step 4) ~ They were manhandled and put in prison.

 

Beatings (Step 5) ~ Next, they experienced physical beatings.

 

Death (Step 6) ~ The final step was being murdered for their beliefs – no freedom of speech: martyred for Christ.

 

“When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’

 

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:54-60).

 

Comments ~ (1) Christians are to become increasingly Christ-like as they live their lives on earth. Compare Stephen’s last words on earth with Christ’s last words on the Cross.

(a)    Stephen: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ~ Jesus Christ: “Father, 'Into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:44).

 

(b)   Stephen: “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” ~ Jesus Christ: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

 

(2) “Indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.” Ultimately truth cannot be denied. That is why atheists and agnostics exist—they fight against Truth. Are their groups fighting against the tooth fairy? Of course not, you don’t fight against something which is not real!

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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