Acts 7:54--8:1a · The Stoning of Stephen

54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 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. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen’s Stones
Acts 7:54--8:1a
Sermon
by Richard F. Bansemer
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The sermon is based on the words of Stephen recorded in the 7th chapter of Acts, beginning at the 59th verse: "And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting to his death."

It takes quite some imagination to go way back - back to the time when persons could be legally stoned to death on the street. In this country of religious freedom it is especially difficult to believe these tales of Christian persecution - and if we believe that they happened, to wonder if the happening has any meaning for us.

After all, we have not been spared tragic deaths during the past few years. We know what it’s like to have …

CSS Publishing Co., Inc., Chosen And The Changed, by Richard F. Bansemer