Martyrdom, Forgiveness, and Divine Sovereignty

Acts 7:54–60 (NASB95) 

54Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep. 

Stephen’s death mirrors Jesus’s crucifixion, underscoring his role as the first Christian martyr (protomartyr). Like Jesus, Stephen faces false accusations, a hostile mob, and dies with prayers for his persecutors. His vision of Jesus “standing at the right hand of God” affirms Christ’s divine authority and His role as advocate. This posture also signals readiness to receive Stephen, echoing Jesus’ promise that He will acknowledge His followers before the Father. Stephen’s final words—“Lord, do not hold this sin against them"—should remind us of Jesus’s last words on the cross and His radical call to love enemies, subverting the cycle of vengeance.  

The introduction of Saul (later Paul) as “approving” Stephen’s execution highlights the paradox of God’s grace. Saul’s zeal for persecuting the church foreshadows his dramatic conversion, illustrating that no heart is beyond redemption. Stephen’s prayer for forgiveness may already sow seeds for Saul’s transformation, as divine mercy turns a persecutor into an apostle. 

Stephen’s glimpse of heaven unveils Jesus as the exalted Son of Man, a title Jesus used to affirm His messianic identity and eschatological authority. By standing, Jesus assumes the posture of a witness or advocate, confirming Stephen’s testimony before the heavenly court. This vision dismantles temple-centric theology, declaring God’s presence accessible beyond physical spaces. 

Follow Stephen’s example by interceding for adversaries. This reflects the heart of the Gospel, breaking cycles of hatred and testifying to God’s transformative love. Stephen’s martyrdom is not defeat but a gateway for Gospel expansion. May we, too, live with unwavering faith, knowing that “those who lose their life for [Christ’s] sake will find it.” 

Blessings, 

Ryan Goodnight