Stephen's Crown

Acts 7 records the preaching of Deacon Stephen. In this chapter, Stephen reminds the Jews of their faithful patriarch, Abraham, and how God had led him from a pagan land into the land of Israel, where He made a covenant with him that was still in effect. He preached of the journey of his people, through Joseph’s sojourn in Egypt to their deliverance by Moses 400 years later. He brought to mind how Moses had met God in the wilderness of Midian in a burning bush, and Deacon Stephen explained how God had empowered Moses to lead His people from idolatry and slavery to freedom and times of refreshing in the Promised Land. Throughout Deacon Stephen's preaching, he repeatedly reminded the Jews of their continual rebellion and idolatry, in spite of the mighty works of God to which they were eyewitnesses. Instead of returning to God, the Jews, who were blinded by their arrogance, got so irritated to the point where they were now accusing Deacon Stephen of blasphemy.

According to the law of Moses, the sin of blasphemy is a capital offense meaning a death sentence usually brought about by stoning (Numbers 15:30-36). But just before these arrogant, unredeemed Jews followed the prescribed penalty and began stoning Stephen, Acts 7:55-56 records his final moments of earthly life, just before he stepped through the veil between heaven and earth: “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”

In the Bible, Jesus is usually mentioned as 'sitting on the right hand of God.' (Mark 16:19, Luke 22:69, Colossians 3:1, etc.) But in Acts 7:55-56, Jesus was standing up. In most customs, a king doesn't stand up for just anyone, but a king will stand up in respect to an honorable man who has given and sacrificed all, including life itself, for the sake of the kingdom. King Jesus stood up to honor Deacon Stephen, because he was such an honorable and faithful man.

The words of Colossians 3:2-3 could have been written about Stephen, even though they are applicable to all believers: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

Deacon Stephen’s life—and even more so his death—should be an example of how every believer should strive to live:

• Committed to the Lord even in the face of death
• Faithful to preach the gospel boldly even when no one will listen
• Knowledgeable of God’s truth
• Willing to be used by God for His plan and purpose.

Deacon Stephen’s testimony still stands today as a beacon, a light to a lost and dying world. Will you be like Stephen?