In Acts 6 we see Stephen move from a participant in the local church, to a leader of it. As Stephen steps intentionally into his call, he’s met with increasing opposition among the religious that surround him. With every opposing conversation, Stephen’s gospel commitment only grows stronger. He begins challenging those who challenged him to move from their religious complacency to a rooted commitment in Jesus, and the text says that “they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.” Stephen’s boldness ends with him challenging those who had fallen into legalistic rhythms to lean into the power of the Holy Spirit. In anger, the religious stone Stephen to death and the Church is persecuted because of Stephen’s sold-out commitment. Here’s what you can’t miss: it’s the death of Stephen that unleashes the Church like never before. It’s the commitment of one that leads to a cascading movement of many. And standing in the crowd of those stoning Stephen was a religious man named Saul whose life would soon be radically transformed by Jesus. There’s no doubt that Stephen’s example greatly impacted Saul’s life. Before Saul’s transformation, the death of Stephen caused him to grow more violent in persecuting believers and in turn, scattered them throughout the world- unleashing the gospel further faster. God can use anything and anyone, He simply calls us to radical commitment to Him. Like Stephen, when we know who we are in Jesus, we will move boldly in faith, no matter what it costs us.
