The Act of Forgiveness by Stephen

Acts 7:55-60  But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.

Setting the Scene:   We fast forward in the book of Acts for our study passage in order to see the brutal stoning of Stephen.  At the end of last week’s reading, the early church is living a communal life which so embodies the greatest commandments that many people were joining them.  Their community was growing by leaps and bounds.  So how do we get from that peaceful community to the gruesome act of this week’s reading???  

We first meet Stephen in Acts 6 when he is one of seven men, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, chosen to administer a food program which will provide equity between the Hebrew and the Greek members of the community.   These men were engaged in the ministry of diakoneo {dee-ak-on-eh'-o} which means to serve and to minister to others.  Stephen was a minister of hospitality.  While this may sound like a harmless and mundane ministry opportunity to some, Stephen was known for acts of signs and wonder.  He was a man of miracles.  He was full of the power of the Spirit and grew in his ability to witness with the wisdom of the Spirit.

Suddenly, in Acts 6:9 we find that Stephen has become the target of a certain community of Jews who bring him before the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Temple.  So ... Most likely, Stephen is a Jewish Hellenist.  This means that although he was a Jew, he was probably brought up in the diaspora heavily influenced by the Greek way of life and thinking.  This cultural difference may have been a point of contention, or perhaps the men were simply jealous of the regard that others had for Stephen.  Unfortunately, divisions happen.  For whatever reason (and it is not explicitly stated in the text), this Jewish community brings false witness against Stephen.  The men accuse Stephen of blasphemy against God.  We begin to get the foreboding feeling that all is not well.  It is not always easy or safe to share your faith with others! 

As he stands before the Temple officials, Stephen gives a passionately articulate accounting of the Good News in Acts 7:1-54 during which he receives a vision of heaven.  Yet he greatly offends and infuriates the Sanhedrin as his witness comes to a close and he concludes with, “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!  Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”  

Making Connections:  When you have shared your spiritual journey with others, how have you been received?  What impact did that response have on your desire to share your story?
 
Going Deeper:   "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."   George Santayana, a 19th Century Spanish philosopher and poet, is credited with this quote.  From the beginning of time, which God created by the way, God knows this is true.  God told the Hebrew people to listen to and to follow the commandments they were given. 

Early in the history of the ancient Israelites, the book of Deuteronomy was written as a reminder of God’s power to save God’s chosen people.  In Deuteronomy 6:4 God says in Hebrew, Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad which is interpreted as Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  This is called “The Shema.”  According to the Jewish Virtual Library “the Shema is an affirmation of Judaism and a declaration of faith in one God. The obligation to recite the Shema is separate from the obligation to pray and a Jew is obligated to say Shema in the morning and at night.”   

History is SO important, that in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 God instructed the Hebrews, “Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.  Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”    Remembering the past became the norm for Jewish families and communities.  It was how they knew God and how they kept their faith alive through the most difficult times.  The most important recitation of Israel’s history is said on Passover during the Seder.   Although there are some Scriptural contradictions, Tradition says that Jesus shared the Passover meal with the disciples at the last Supper.  

Pondering:      Stephen, dude!  What were you thinking?!  The history of God is SO important to the Jewish people.  When Stephen uses Jewish history to convict the Sanhedrin Temple officials through the power of the Holy Spirit, he cuts them to the heart!  He says, “You killed the Messiah.”    Is it any wonder that they reacted as they did!    These are highly religious men, but perhaps even highly religious people can go off the deep end when they believe they are right and everyone else is wrong.  Did you catch the name of the one to whom the witnesses went to after the stoning.  His name was Saul.   And he was wrong.  Yes, this was the same Saul who became the Apostle Paul after his own conversion experience.

Forgiveness!  As we listen to Stephen cry out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” we realize that this kind of compassionate forgiveness is possible only by the power of the Holy Spirit!   Stephen forgives these men in the same way Jesus forgave those who crucified him.  How have you been deeply hurt in your life?  How have you been able to experience various layers of forgiveness for persons who have hurt you?   As you think about your own spiritual journey, how would you describe the power of the Spirit in helping you to forgive?  
 
Praying:  Let this prayer of St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) become your daily Prayer of Eastertide

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit that my works, too, may be holy;
Draw my heart O Holy Spirit that I love but what is holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit to defend that is holy;
Guard me then O Holy Spirit that I always may be holy.  Amen.