A Radical Act of Forgiveness
In Acts 7, we see Stephen recounting before the Sanhedrin in chronological order God’s dealings with the nation of Israel. He speaks of Moses and Joseph and the way Israel rejected the leaders God had chosen. His speech comes to a climax when he talks about the ultimate rejection of Jesus in Acts 7:52.
He accuses his listeners of being stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in both heart and ears who continually resisted the Holy Spirit, just as their forefathers did.
Enraged, the members of the Sanhedrin cut the speech short and grind their teeth. This image often described the action of God’s enemies (Luke 13:28; Job 16:9; Psalm 35:16). When they could stand it no longer, the listeners stoned Stephen to death.
However, before dying, Stephen gave us an astonishing example of the forgiveness offered through Jesus as he left this life praying for his killers, asking that their sin not be held against them (Acts 7:60). His death was not in vain. It allowed the infant church to spread and ultimately grow in number and in faith.
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