Acts 7

“Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Acts 7:57-58 NLT

It was only in yesterday’s reading of chapter 6, that Stephen was chosen and added to the disciples’ ministry, and today we read that he was stoned by the Jewish leaders. In doing some quick research on Stephen, I discovered that he was born around 5 AD, only to have been martyred circa 34 AD.

We can probably all think of someone who has been called by God into ministry and then find out that they were called home to be with their Heavenly Father a short time later. We wonder why. Why would God do that? How could that be His plan? How will the ministry continue? Who will take their place?

Though we read in today’s text of Stephen’s quick or (in my mind) perhaps premature exit from his ministry, we also are introduced to another young man named Saul. Perhaps Stephen’s obedience and confidence in Christ was a seed planted specifically for Saul. Maybe it was God’s plan to use Stephen, who was full faith (Acts 6:5) and the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:55), and Saul needed to witness this in Stephen in order for his conversion to take place. Perhaps Saul needed to witness Stephen’s dedication, so that when Saul (later Paul after his conversion) could believe and write while imprisoned Philippians 1:21, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.”

Though we do not understand and know God’s good and perfect plan, may we be encouraged that the God who spoke and fulfilled His promises to Abraham, is the same God we serve today. May we also be reminded that our posture and our actions are seeds planted for those who will continue the Lord’s work after we have been called home.