And cast him out of the city and stoned him, and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet whose name was Saul. Acts 7:58
A young man who had come under the sound of the Gospel had been convicted of his sins, and was struggling with the world’s greatest decision. In an effort to escape from the constant pleadings of the Holy Spirit, he went out one evening to a night club to seek some entertainment. Shortly after he arrived, an entertainer at the club began to sing a song that was mocking the Gospel. Its lyrics began, ‘What’s the point of being born if ye must be born again?’ Many in the audience laughed, but not the young man who had just arrived. Shocked at the irreverence, and freshly reminded of his own spiritual need, he fled the club and sought the Scriptures, where he soon found the new birth that the entertainer had mocked. The devil loves to mock the Gospel, but sometimes he oversteps himself as in this case. And as in the case of the martyrdom of Stephen.
If the devil had known the outcome of Stephen’s death, he might have not stirred up the Sanhedrin to such a rage. He could not have known that Stephen’s death would ignite such a passion and commitment from the other Christians that the Gospel message would be flung far and wide with an ever-growing zeal. He could also have not known that Stephen’s death would make such an impression on Saul of Tarsus, and eventually lead him to become the magnificent apostle Paul who would lead thousands of sinners to Christ and teach untold millions of saints through his preaching and his epistles. Yes, the devil overstepped himself, and we continue to benefit today.
The stoning of Stephen was an illegal act. He had not been formally charged with any offense nor been given a proper trial. Roman law actually forbade them from executing anyone, as it had when they had sought the death of Jesus. In a bid to garner some legitimacy for their actions, the mob placed their cloaks at the feet of Saul, giving him the nominal authority over their vile act. That was OK with Saul at the time, although the event must have hung heavily over his conscience in the days ahead. As we consider the event, we might conclude that the enemies of the cross had won a victory with their evil deeds. And that would be a wrong conclusion. No life that is ever given in the service of Jesus Christ is ever a waste. Neither is any sacrifice that we might make for our Lord ever a mistake or a disappointment.
Stephen died and the flames of Gospel testimony burned ever brighter. Stephen died, and the apostle Paul was reached to carry the work to greater heights. -Jim MacIntosh