Stephen calls on God to forgive his persecutors.

Acts 7:58b-60

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 “And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:58b-60

The Jewish leaders led Stephen out of the city to stone him to death. When Stephen was about to die from the rocks hitting him, he said, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” When Stephen was expressing forgiveness for those killing him, he was not expecting them to stop stoning him, was not expecting a reconciliation with them. Stephen was asking for God’s forgiveness to be extended to them so that one day his murderers would still have the opportunity to come to Christ through the grace and mercy of God.

Our Lord Jesus is the example of what forgiveness means, “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him…Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:32-34

The “witnesses” were those who heard the “blasphemy” of Stephen and they legitimized his murder. “Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Hebrews 10:28 That is from the laws of Judaism as quoted from Deuteronomy 17:6.

The witnesses laid their outer clothes at the feet of Saul. Removing their clothing gave themselves more freedom to throw the rocks at Stephen. Saul was there, consenting to Stephen’s death, consenting that it was a good thing to stone him . Saul was an enforcer of the laws of Judaism [Acts 9:1-2], a Roman citizen [Acts 22:25-28], and a Pharisee [Philippians 3:5]. Later, Saul said “Yes” to Jesus Christ [Acts 9:1-22]and now is known as Paul. Paul started his missionary journey in Acts 13 and went through Acts 28. 

Envision what would have happened if Stephen said, “Lord, hold them accountable for everything they deserve” and the Lord agreed not to extend His mercy, grace, and did not allow them the opportunity to repent by saying “Yes!” to His Son, Jesus. Paul would never have lived for Jesus Christ, his missionary journey would never have occurred, and none of his letters would have been written. Paul wrote about 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. “[God] has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities...But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Psalms 103:10, Romans 5:8

The work of sanctification removes the feelings and attitudes that urges us to live by the creed, “an eye for an eye”. The Holy Spirit leads us into a more civil response to respond with goodwill towards others, to have faith for our eternal home in heaven, to persevere in Christ when we are harassed, and to live at peace with others, “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7 Our Lord Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” Matthew 5:38-39 When we are harassed, afflicted, and persecuted in this world, may we be able to say, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

The ministry of Salvation is impossible without Holiness because without the Holy Spirit, we would never have it in our heart to give people the time of day if they did us wrong. Without Holiness, our Lord Jesus would never have given His life on the Cross for a world of sinners.

Every day, those of today’s culture finds a way to afflict belief in God, to make it difficult to live for Jesus Christ, and to fight against the presence of the Holy Spirit. And every day we must be ready to share our born-again experience, which is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart. Every day we must live in Holiness, by the process of sanctification, to be able to forgive those who afflict us over and over again. The day we stop forgiving is the day grudges set in, the Holy Spirit is grieved, sanctification stops, and the life of Holiness is wounded with conflict. A forgiving heart separates us from the ways of an unforgiving, corrupt, and lawless world filled with antagonism.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11