Acts 7:55

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR

‘Stephen, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven.’

Acts 7:55

The life and death of St. Stephen are full of lessons for those who would be faithful, loyal, and true Christian workers.

I. The qualification for service.—St. Stephen could bear his witness to the Lord in the midst of an ungodly and unbelieving world, where everything seemed against him, because he was ‘full of the Holy Ghost.’ The great need of the Church to-day is of men and women who are so filled with the Holy Ghost.

II. The inspiration for service.—And as we go on bearing testimony for the Master we need to get fresh strength, fresh inspiration every day. Whence may it be obtained? St. Stephen ‘looked up steadfastly into heaven,’ and there he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. No wonder, with that precious vision before Him, he testified more potently than he had ever done, and that when he was stoned he could pray for his murderers. If we want to feel an inspiration for service, if we want to be strengthened for our work, let us always ‘look up’ even to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

III. The reward of service.—St. Stephen had his reward, even though his life seemed a failure. To him was granted the blessed privilege of being the first Christian martyr, and so long as the world lasts so long will his name be honoured. But the greatest of all rewards was that just when the last stone killed his body he ‘fell asleep,’ and awoke in the Paradise of God.

Illustration

‘St. Stephen’s case teaches us that a man needs to be filled with the Holy Ghost, not only for great and heroic achievements, which come but rarely in any man’s life, but far more for the daily round, the common task, the daily vexations, the wear and tear, the friction incidental to the ordinary working of life’s machinery in our dealings with our fellow-men, in our homes, in our social converse, in ordinary life. Let any Christian say whether the greatest strain upon his spirituality is not there; whether there is not as great a need of strength for little things as for important engagements; whether it is not, in fact, a far severer test of a man’s real likeness to Christ to live consistently in his home and in his daily ordinary occupations than to take, it may be, a prominent part in religious services. Depend upon it, we need to be filled with the Spirit for faithfulness in little things. St. Stephen was so filled, and hence he was ready when the great crisis in his history came.’

ST.