But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, (56) and said, “Look! I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; (58) and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. (59) And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (60) 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.

The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke, historian, physician, writer of the gospel and frequent and beloved companion of the apostle Paul. Our verses today are about the first Christian martyr, Stephen, who was one of seven men chosen by the apostles so that they (the apostles) would be relieved of serving the “multitude” of early Christians in Jerusalem and leave them to prayer and ministry of the word. Luke, in Acts 7, tells us that Stephen, “full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.” Unable to prevail over Stephen in open debate his enemies conspired to have false witnesses accuse him of blasphemy – speaking against Moses and God, the temple and the Law – which by Jewish law was punishable by death.

Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin to face his accusers; Stephen proceeded to show the Sanhedrin his view of God was absolutely orthodox. His was not a personal defense but an apologetic for a new way of worship that Jesus Christ taught and His followers embraced; it was not a recital of Jewish history only but a proclamation of the gospel. Stephen’s form of defense was common in that culture – using a history of Israel highlighting elements of that history in support – built mainly around outstanding personalities – endeavoring to show how the Christian message was fully consistent with and the culmination of Old Testament revelation. This marks the break between Judaism and Christianity. Luke recorded this speech to explain and defend this new way of worship fully.

The Sanhedrin, the elite ruling council of Israel, were “cut to the quick” by Stephen’s speech. The accused became the accuser of the nation of Israel; the one to be judged became the judge. The Sanhedrin reacted in a frenzy, stopped their ears and became a murderous mob. Luke tells us that Stephen stood in front of them in calmness and peace, looking steadfastly to heaven where he saw the glory of God and the resurrected Christ. All order was abandoned; in chaos, confusion with loud voices the Sanhedrin changed into a demon possessed mob. They dragged Stephen out of the city – as required by Jewish law – and stoned him. Murdered him. Christ Jesus is now fully rejected by Israel.

Verse 58 tells us Saul of Tarsus (who becomes Paul the apostle) was a prominent figure in this story. He certainly knew the witnesses against Stephen as they took off their upper garments to be free to strike hard with stones, and laid their clothing at his feet. The groundwork is laid and now comes Paul the apostle, who was God’s chosen vessel for the spread of the gospel.