Stephen and Saul

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. - Acts 7:54-60

    The first martyr in the history of God's church was Stephen, a faithful deacon, a preaching deacon, but a deacon. The death of this faithful man is recorded more fully than the death of anyone else in the New Testament except that of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here is a man dying for the testimony of Christ, dying by the hands of wicked men, but dying in grace and dying graciously for the glory of God. The Spirit of God directed Luke to identify just one of Stephen's murderers. Those who stoned Stephen 'laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul'. Saul was probably the man who had examined Stephen and had been baffled by his speech when he stood before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:8-10).

    Here is a striking contrast—Stephen and Saul. Both of them are in glory now. One cannot help wondering how Saul felt when Stephen's smile met him at the throne! What a joyous meeting they must have had—Stephen and Saul embracing one another! But in the text before us the two men were poles apart. They had nothing in common. Stephen was about to die. Saul was holding the clothes of those who stoned him. Saul was a proud, self-righteous Pharisee. He was proud of his pedigree, his learning, his works, his religious position and his great reputation. Stephen was a broken, humbled sinner, saved by the grace of God, whose only hope was in Christ. Saul was wrapped up in himself. Stephen was wrapped up in Christ. His heart was elated, not by looking into a mirror, but by looking to Christ, his exalted Lord. He drew his comfort, not from what he had done, but from what Christ had done for him. Saul was a religious ritualist. He placed great weight and importance on the externals of religion. To him, the law, the temple, the priesthood and the ceremonies were everything. Stephen's religion was a matter of the heart, a living, spiritual union with God in Christ. He put external matters in their proper place (Phil. 3:3; Acts 7:48-50). He did not at all despise those outward forms of religion ordained of God. But he knew that religious ceremony without faith in Christ is useless (Isa. 1:10-15). Saul thought God was impressed with rituals and ceremonies. Stephen knew what few know: 'The Lord looketh on the heart' (1Sam.16:7; Luke 16:15). Saul defended his religion. For the defence of his religion he was willingly cunning, cruel and callous. Stephen defended the cause of Christ, even at the cost of his own life. The cause of Christ, his church, his truth and his glory were of greater value to Stephen than life itself. Stephen was gracious to the end, ever truthful, gentle, forgiving and self-sacrificing. Here are five things to be learned from this passage of Holy Scripture and the contrast here given of Stephen and Saul.

    1. Every believer's life and testimony in this world are important, influential and useful

    It does matter greatly how you live in this world if you profess to be a believer, a follower of Christ. There are some people who have no knowledge of Christ and his gospel except what they hear from you and see in you. To them you represent the Son of God and the gospel of his grace. Be sure you are a good representative (Titus 2:10).

    Saul's first introduction to genuine Christianity, his first experience with a true believer, was Stephen. Stephen was the first person to tell Saul about Christ and the gospel of his grace. At first he despised both the message and the messenger. But he never forgot it! In God's time it had a profound efficacy upon his heart. From Stephen's lips Saul heard a faithful declaration of the gospel of God's grace and glory in Christ. He saw in Stephen a believer who was thoroughly committed to Christ. He saw a believer die in faith. In God's time all these things had their impact upon him.

    2. God will always preserve a witness for himself

    We are always reluctant to lose any from the ranks of God's church, especially one of great service and usefulness. We appear to be fearful that the church simply cannot continue to function without certain men. But it is not so. God has always preserved sufficient witnesses for himself, and always will until Christ comes. God's cause is safe in God's hands! The church lost Stephen, a man of great usefulness. But God had his eye on Saul, a man he would make even more useful. The Lord always has a successor for any man he is pleased to use. When Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha was waiting to carry his mantle. God is never in short supply of men to work in his vineyard.

    3. It is good for believers to remember where they were when God saved them and what they are by nature

    The Holy Spirit included these words in the inspired record as a fact to be remembered: 'The witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.' They are words which were meant to keep Paul humble, and they always did. He never forgot what happened at Jerusalem that day (Acts 22: 19-20; 1 Tim. 1:12-17).

    We must never forget where we were when grace found us (Isa. 51:1). We must never forget what we were and are by nature. We must never forget what God has saved us from (Eph. 2:1-4)and what he has done for us in Christ (1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1 John 3:1-3). Such a memory will make us grateful. He loves much who is forgiven much (Luke 7:36-50). Such grateful remembrance will make the gospel of God's distinguishing grace precious. All who have been saved acknowledge that 'By the grace of God I am what I am' (1 Cor. 15:10). Thank God for electing love, redeeming blood, regenerating grace and preserving power! Grace alone makes us to differ from those who are damned (1 Cor. 4:7; Rom. 9: 16). This gives us hope for others too. He who saved Saul of Tarsus can save me. He who saved me can save you. He who saved us can save anyone. His blood is sufficient. His grace is sufficient. His power is sufficient. Jesus Christ is an able Saviour (Heb. 7:25).

    4. Our great God graciously overrules all things for the good of his elect and the glory of his name

    As we saw in the previous chapter, the stoning of Stephen, though it was a terrible act of barbaric cruelty and sin, was best, the very best thing that could have happened, on that day. God was in total control of the situation. 'If Saul had not been there, Stephen would not have prayed for him,' said Spurgeon. 'If Stephen had not prayed, Saul would have never preached,' commented Augustine. Even the evil performed by men and devils is good for God's elect and will bring praise to his name (Ps. 76:10; Prov. 12:21; 16:7; Rom. 8:28; 1Peter 3:12-13).

    5. When the time comes, God gives his believing people grace to die well

    Those who die in the arms of Christ, who die in faith, die well. What God did for Stephen, he will do essentially for all who trust Christ. Stephen died, being full of the Holy Spirit, with his heart fixed on Christ, looking up steadfastly into heaven. He died without a care in the world, trusting his sovereign substitute, calling on the name of God. He saw heaven opened. He saw the glory of God. He saw the Lord Jesus standing in the place of power to receive him. He died without any malice in his heart. He did not really die at all (John 11:25-26). He simply dropped the body of death. He fell asleep in the arms of Christ and woke up in glory, in life!