1039
THE KING’S BUSINESS
ing offered this prayer he gently “ fell asleep” while foes gnashed their teeth and rocks crushed the body. He did not die : he went to rest. Tuesday, November 2 1 . Acts 8 : 1 - 3 , The Devil’s attempt to hinder the truth and destroy the church resulted in the church’s being scattered and the W ord of God being preached far and wide. The effect was just the opposite to that intended. God made the wrath o f Satan to praise Him. The Devil had overreached himself. Up to this time the church seems to have been largely confined to Jerusalem. Probably from five to seven years had passed since Pentecost and yet the Gospel is for the most part still confined largely to the city where it was first preached. Five to seven years had passed since the Lord Jesus had said to the disciples in connec tion with the Pentecostal promise “Ye shall be witnesses unto me in aril Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost" part o f the earth” (Acts 1:8), and yet that promise had not been fulfilled in far beyond the confines of Jerusalem itself and God uses what Satan intended to hinder the work as the means for the fulfillment o f His own promise. The storm o f persecution that burst upon the church upon the day o f Stephen’s death simply carried oiit the pur pose o f Christ. While the rank and file- o f the church was scattered thé apostles bravely stayed at the post o f duty in Jeru salem. The word translated “ devout” in verse 2 is used throughout the Acts o f the Apostles to describe proselytes to Judaism, so those who believed,Stephen were soon Jewish proselytes. The most active agent in this early persecution was Saul. His rage at Christ and the church knew no bounds. He was not content with opposing Christ and Christianity in the synagogue, he also entered the homes, he spared neither age or sex. He treated the Christians with great violence. The word translated “haling” really means “dragging.” He com mitted men and women to prison for no other offense than that o f believing on
fury to fury murdering Christians (cf. ch. 8 : 1 ; 9 : 1 ff.)> some day he too will become a Christian but now he is with the mob. Who can tell when we see a mob o f implac able enemies o f the Lord who among them will some day be on the Lord’s side? Monday, November 20 . Acts 7 : 59 , 60 . While the mob raged and the stones fell, Stephen simply prayed, and to whom did he pray? T o Jesus, He had just seen Him in Heaven and thought it was right to pray to Him. He recalled how Jesus, Himself, had prayed in dying and how He had said to the Father, “ Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,” so Stephen now said to Jesus “ Receive my spirit.” There can be no question that that prayer was heard and while Stephen’s body died and utterly crumbled into dust Stephen’s spirit wtis taken to be with Jesus in conscious bless edness (cf. Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:6-8, R .V .). In verse 60 we hear Stephen praying still another prayer that he had learned from Jesus on the cross, “Lay not this sin to their charge” (cf. Luke 23:24). Stephen had lived as his Master lived and now he died as his Master died. His last two utter ances were' prayers, and prayers formed after the pattern o f the dying prayers of Jesus (Luke 23:46 ; 23:34). As he had seen Jesus at the right hand o f God he did not hesitate to pray to One so clearly proven to be Divine. That the Lord in this verse means the Lord Jesus is evident from the context, for in the preceeding verses it says specifically, “ Lord Jesus.” Love shone out wonderfully in these last moments of Stephen. He could no longer stand, but falling on his knees beneath the pitiless crash o f the rocks, he summoned all his strength and uttered a loud cry. What is it? is it a complaint? No. Is it a moan? No. It is a prayer, but what a prayer: “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” He was indeed full o f that Spirit whose first fruit is love (Gal. 5:22). His prayer was heard in Heaven by the Lord Jesus, and Saul, the chief persecutor, in answer to that prayer, became Paul the Apostle. Hav
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker