Jump Start # 677

Acts 8:1 “And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

Luke begins this chapter of Acts by connecting Saul with the death of Stephen, which happened at the end of the last chapter. Saul was in agreement. Saul was there. The robes were laid at his feet.

A young man witnessed a death, a violent death. There is no indication that Stephen fought back, tried to run or begged for his life. Like the Lord, he died in faith and confidence. Stephen was killed by rocks. He was stoned to death. That is neither a quick nor bloodless way to die. The sounds of rocks hitting a body and making a thud sound. The sight of blood splattering and spilling into the dirt. The view of a lifeless body laying among rocks that had been thrown at him. This isn’t the movies. This really happened. Stephen didn’t get up. He was dead.  When the accusers had enough, they walked over picked up their robes and headed home. They may have patted each other on the back. They may have been very proud of what took place. Another heretic silenced. Another blasphemer stopped. They stomped his life out like they had done to Jesus.

I have read about whole towns coming out to witness the hanging of a criminal. Women and their children watching. I’m not sure what the fascination is about such things, but I wonder what watching that does to a person. Years ago, I was called to a home of one of our members. She was crying, saying that he was in the basement. I went down first. The police were right behind me. As I turned the corner I nearly ran into him—hanging from the rafters. He had committed suicide. That image bothered me for a long time. I couldn’t sleep the first few nights after that.

Saul was not only a bystander watching the murder of Stephen, our verse tells us, that he was in agreement. He was not about to raise his voice in opposition. He was not going to try to stop what was going on. He was not asking for reason, discussion or calmer heads to prevail. He agreed. Luke adds, he agreed “hearty.” The NIV words this, “giving approval.” That sounds as if he was cheering the rock throwers on.

Saul went home that day thinking it was a good day. He thought God prevailed. Error was put down and a strong voice for that error was no more. He had nothing to feel bad about. The Law permitted what he did. He thought he was with God. He thought God would smile that day. A life can to an end, but it was good for the cause of truth. How righteous and good he must have felt. It seems that the events of Stephen’s death caused Saul to realize that he wasn’t doing much watching things, he had to do his part. A couple of verses later, Luke tells us, that Saul, this same young man, was dragging men and women off to prison. He made it his mission to stamp out this digressive movement. He thought he had to do many things hostile to Jesus, Luke tells us later in Acts.

How wrong Saul was. He wasn’t close. He would later be united with Stephen in spirit as he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Two lessons for us:

1. Some who are so busy religiously can be wrong. These Jews weren’t sitting on the sidelines. They took matters personally and got involved, to the point of killing Stephen. They were wrong, very wrong. God was not with them. This wasn’t according to the Law. The Law would lead them to Jesus, not away from Him. There are folks today selling books, making CD’s, flying across the world doing what seems to be wonderful things. Their activities are not a sign of God’s approval. They are right if they walk with God in obedience to His word.

2. When Saul realized he was wrong, he did not let his past cripple him. I can only imagine the first time he preached that Jesus Christ rose from the grave. How strange that might have sounded coming from his lips. Our pasts can hurt us. Some of us have said things that were very hurtful about other Christians or God’s church. Some of us may have mocked and made fun of Christians. Then one day, we learn. We change. We become. But for some, they can’t release that past. They become passive because of those things. Not Saul. He traveled the world preaching Jesus. He did not let his dirty hands from the past keep him from doing what was right.

Lessons we need to think about. Are you doing God’s will? How do you know? You will know by what the Bible says. Those of us that had to eat our words, swallow our pride, change our thinking, are we continuing on with the Lord? Saul did. God wants you to.

Roger