Acts 7:54 - Meaning and Application

Here we see the death of the first martyr of the Christian church. This story gives a vivid picture of both the rage of the persecutors and the courage and comfort of the one who suffered. It shows us what we may expect if we are called to suffer for Christ. It also shows the sharp contrast between hell in its fire and darkness, and heaven in its light and glory.

The text does not say in so many words that the council voted on Stephen’s case and then condemned him by majority. But that is likely what happened. It was probably not a mob killing without legal order. The usual signs of an official execution are here, since he was taken outside the city and the witnesses began the act of killing.

We should notice both the confusion of Stephen’s enemies and the calm of Stephen’s spirit. Their corruption shows how strong evil can become. Their malice was complete, as if hell itself had broken loose and people had become like demons. The seed of the serpent was hissing its poison.

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart (Acts 7:54). The Greek word here means something like being sawn apart. Their minds suffered as much pain as martyrs often suffered in their bodies. They were filled with anger at Stephen’s powerful and unanswerable arguments, and they had nothing to say against him. They were not pierced with sorrow, as the hearers were in Acts 2:37. Instead, they were cut to the heart with rage, as in Acts 5:33. Paul uses a similar sharp tone when he says, "rebuke them sharply" (Titus 1:13).

People who reject the gospel often end up tormenting themselves. Enmity against God is a painful thing for the heart. Faith and love heal the heart. When they saw that Stephen, who had looked like an angel before he spoke, now spoke like an angel, as a messenger from heaven, they were like a wild bull caught in a net (Isaiah 51:20). They could not defeat the case he had made, but they still refused to give in.

Then they gnashed their teeth at him. This showed both deep rage against Stephen and deep inward frustration. Job spoke of an enemy who gnashed his teeth at him (Job 16:9). It also suggests a savage wish to tear him apart. Paul warns believers to watch out for such people when he says, "Beware of dogs" (Philippians 3:2). Hatred of God’s people can make men act like wild beasts.

They also cried out with a loud voice (Acts 7:57). They did this to stir one another up and to drown out the sound of their own consciences. When Stephen said he saw heaven opened, they shouted so he could not be heard. It is common for a righteous cause, especially the cause of Christ’s religion, to be attacked with noise and chaos. When reason is lacking, people often try to win by uproar.

They cried out like soldiers rushing into battle, gathering all their strength for a desperate attack. Then they stopped their ears, so they would not hear what they hated to hear. They may have claimed they could not bear to listen to blasphemy. Caiaphas, the high priest, tore his clothes when Jesus spoke of seeing the Son of Man coming in glory (Matthew 26:64-65). In the same way, they stopped their ears when Stephen said he saw the Son of Man in glory.

This showed their stubborn refusal to listen. They had made up their minds not to hear anything that might convince them. The prophets often complained of this kind of hardness. They were like the deaf adder that will not listen to the voice of the charmer (Psalm 58:4-5). It also warned of the hardening judgment God would bring on them. They shut their ears, and in righteous judgment God would leave them in that hardness. This was part of what God was doing with unbelieving Jews at that time: "Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy." Stephen had already described them as uncircumcised in heart and ears.

Then they ran on him with one accord. The people, the elders, the judges, the accusers, the witnesses, and the bystanders all rushed at him like beasts on prey. They were violent and reckless. They ran at him, though he was not going to escape. They were also united in doing evil, all of them acting together. They wanted to frighten him and disturb the peace and comfort he had in his soul.

Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him, as if he were not fit to live in Jerusalem, or even in the world. They claimed to be carrying out the law of Moses (Leviticus 24:16), which said that anyone who blasphemed the Lord’s name must surely die, and all the congregation was to stone him. In this same court, they had once condemned Christ as a blasphemer, though they then chose crucifixion for greater shame. God overruled even that for the fulfillment of Scripture.

Their fury is shown in the way they handled the execution. They threw Stephen out of the city as if they could not bear to look at him. They treated him like something cursed, like refuse. The witnesses against him led the execution, as the law required (Deuteronomy 17:7). In cases like blasphemy, the witnesses were to be the first to stone the accused (Leviticus 24:14, Deuteronomy 13:9), so their own testimony would be confirmed by their action.

Stoning was hard physical work, so the witnesses took off their outer garments to move more freely. They laid those garments at the feet of a young man named Saul, who was then watching this tragedy with approval.

It is the first time we read Saul’s name, and we will know and love that name better later, when it becomes Paul. He would change from a persecutor into a preacher. This small part he played in Stephen’s death later came back to him with sorrow, when he said, “I kept the coats of those who killed him” (Acts 22:20).

See the power of grace in Stephen, and the wonderful signs of God’s favor at work in him. His enemies were full of Satan, but he was full of the Holy Spirit, fuller than usual and freshly strengthened for the fight. In that way, the day of trouble matched the strength given to him. This is why those who suffer for doing right are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on them (1 Peter 4:14). When Stephen was first chosen for public service, he was described as a man full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5), and now, when he is called to die for his faith, he still has the same character. Those who are full of the Holy Spirit are ready for anything, whether to serve Christ or to suffer for him.

God equips the people he calls to hard service in his name. He also carries them through it with comfort by filling them with the Holy Spirit, so that, as their troubles for Christ grow, their comfort in him grows even more, and then none of these things can move them. Here we see a remarkable closeness between this blessed martyr and the blessed Jesus at this critical moment. When followers of Christ are killed all day long for his sake and counted as sheep for slaughter, does that separate them from Christ’s love? Does he love them less? Do they love him less? No, not at all. This story shows that clearly.

Christ graciously showed himself to Stephen, both to comfort him and to honor him in the middle of his suffering. When the council was cut to the heart and ground their teeth at him, ready to tear him apart, Stephen had a sight of Christ’s glory that filled him with joy beyond words. This vision was meant not only for Stephen’s encouragement, but also for the support of all God’s suffering servants in every age.

Being full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen looked up steadfastly into heaven (Acts 7:55). In this way, he looked above the power and rage of his persecutors and treated them as nothing. They fixed their eyes on him with malice and cruelty, but he looked to heaven and paid them no mind. He was so taken up with the eternal life now before him that he seemed unconcerned about his present danger. Instead of looking around for a way of escape, he looked up to heaven. His help came only from there, and that way was still open to him. Though they surrounded him on every side, they could not break his fellowship with heaven.

A believing focus on God and the world above helps us rise above fear of people. When fear controls us, we forget the Lord our Maker (Isaiah 51:13). Stephen also directed his suffering toward God’s glory and Christ’s honor, as if he were saying, “Lord, I suffer this for your sake.” He showed his strong desire for Christ to be honored in his body. Since he was ready to be offered, he looked up steadfastly to heaven like one willing to give himself to God.

He also lifted his soul with his eyes in prayer, asking God for wisdom and grace to bear this trial rightly. God has promised to be with the servants he calls to suffer for him, but they must still seek him in prayer. He is near to them, but they must call on him for what they need. “Is anyone afflicted? Let him pray.” Stephen was also longing for the heavenly country to which he saw his persecutors were about to send him. It is good for dying believers to look steadfastly to heaven and think, “There is the place where death will carry my better part. Then, O death, where is your sting?”

This also showed that he was full of the Holy Spirit. Wherever the Spirit of grace lives, works, and rules, he turns the soul upward. Those who are full of the Holy Spirit will look steadfastly to heaven, because that is where their heart is. Stephen also put himself in a posture to receive the next sight of divine glory and grace. If we expect to hear from heaven, we must look up steadfastly to heaven.

He saw the glory of God (Acts 7:55), because he first saw the heavens opened (Acts 7:56). Some think his eyes were strengthened beyond their natural power, so that he saw into the third heaven, even from a great distance. Others think this was a divine vision placed before his eyes, as happened with Isaiah and Ezekiel. In that sense, heaven came down to him, as in Revelation 21:2. The heavens were opened to let him see the happiness he was about to enter, so he could pass through such a great death with courage and peace.

If we were to look up steadfastly by faith, we would see the heavens opened through Christ’s mediation, because the veil has been torn and a new and living way has been opened for us into the holy place. Heaven is opened so there can be fellowship between God and people, with his blessings coming down to us and our prayers and praise going up to him. We may also see the glory of God, as far as he has shown it in his word. That sight will carry us through every terror of suffering and death.

Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55), the Son of Man, as it says in Acts 7:56. Because Jesus is the Son of Man and has taken our human nature with him into heaven, clothed with a body, he could be seen with bodily eyes, and Stephen saw him. When Old Testament prophets saw the glory of God, angels usually attended the vision. Isaiah’s vision of God’s presence was attended by seraphim, and Ezekiel’s by cherubim, both of which point to angels, the servants of God’s providence. But here no angels are mentioned, even though they surround the throne and the Lamb. Instead, Stephen sees Jesus at the right hand of God, the great mediator, through whom God’s grace comes to us and from whom more glory rises to God than from all the ministry of holy angels. God’s glory shines most brightly in the face of Jesus Christ, because there the glory of his grace shines most clearly.

This is also proof that Christ has been exalted to the Father’s right hand. The apostles saw him ascend, but they did not see him sit down. A cloud received him out of their sight.

We are told that Jesus sat at the right hand of God, but was he ever seen there? Yes, Stephen saw him there and was fully satisfied by the sight. He saw Jesus at God’s right hand, which shows both his great honor and his royal rule, his unlimited power, and his work over all things. Whatever God’s right hand gives to us, receives from us, or does for us, it does through Christ, for he is God’s right hand.

Christ is usually said to be sitting there, but Stephen sees him standing there, as one especially concerned for his suffering servant. He stood as a judge ready to defend Stephen’s cause against his persecutors. He is raised up from his holy dwelling (Zac 2:13), coming out of his place to punish (Isa 26:21). He stands ready to welcome Stephen and crown him, and in the meantime to give him a view of the joy set before him.

This was meant to encourage Stephen. He sees that Christ is for him, and then it does not matter who is against him. When our Lord Jesus was in agony, an angel appeared to strengthen him, but Stephen had Christ himself appearing to him. Nothing brings more comfort to dying believers, or more courage to suffering believers, than seeing Jesus at the right hand of God. Blessed be God, by faith we may see him there too.

Stephen then told those around him what he saw (Act 7:56): “Look, I see the heavens opened.” What comforted him should have convicted them and warned them not to keep attacking a man on whom heaven was clearly showing favor. So he declared what he saw and left them to make of it what they would. Some were only made angrier, but others may have been led to think about this Jesus whom they were persecuting and to believe in him.

Stephen’s godly prayers to Jesus Christ now follow. The display of God’s glory to him did not lift him above prayer. It moved him to pray more deeply: “They stoned Stephen, while he was calling on God” (Act 7:59). He called on God, and that showed he was a true Israelite, yet they still went on stoning him, not seeing how dangerous it is to fight against those who have a place in heaven. Though they stoned him, he still called on God. In fact, that was exactly why he called on him.

This is a comfort to people who are hated and mistreated without cause. They have a God they can go to, a God who is all-sufficient and always hears prayer. Men may stop their ears, as they did here (Act 7:57), but God does not. Stephen had been driven out of the city, but he had not been driven away from his God. He was leaving the world, and so he called on God, for we must do that as long as we live. It is good to die praying. Then we need strength we have never had before to do a work we have never done, and how can we get that help except by prayer?

Stephen offered two short prayers in his dying moments, and in them he seemed to breathe out his soul. First, he prayed for himself: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Christ had given his own spirit into the Father’s hands, and here we are taught to give ours into Christ’s hands as the Mediator, the one who brings us to the Father. Stephen saw Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand, and he called to him, “Blessed Jesus, do now for me what you stand there to do for all yours. Receive my departing spirit into your hand.”

Notice first that the soul is the real person, so our main concern, in life and in death, must be our souls. Stephen’s body was about to be cruelly broken under a shower of stones. His earthly tent was about to be torn down and abused. But whatever happened to that body, his prayer was, “Lord, let my spirit be safe. Let it go well with my poor soul.” While we live, we should care that even if the body is hungry or poorly clothed, the soul may be fed and clothed. Even if the body is in pain, the soul may rest in peace. When we die, though the body is thrown aside like a broken vessel no one wants, the soul may still be received as a vessel of honor, with God as its strength and portion, even when the flesh fails.

Notice also that our Lord Jesus is God, and we should seek him, trust him, and find comfort in him in life and death. Stephen prayed to Christ, and so should we, for it is God’s will that all people honor the Son just as they honor the Father. We are to commit ourselves to Christ, for he alone can guard what we give him until that day. When we come to die, we must keep our eyes on Christ, because there is no safe passage into the next world except under his care, and no comfort in dying moments except what comes from him.

Christ’s receiving our spirits at death is the great thing we should be careful about and take comfort in. While we live, we should care that Christ will receive our spirits when we die. If he rejects them, where can they go? How can they escape the roaring lion? So we must commit them to him each day, to be ruled, made holy, and prepared for heaven. Then, and only then, will he receive them. If this has been our care while we live, it may be our comfort when we die, that we will be received into everlasting homes.

Second, Stephen prayed for his persecutors (Act 7:60). The way he prayed is worth noticing, because it seems to have been done with more solemnity than the first prayer. He knelt down, showing humility in prayer. He also cried out with a loud voice, showing earnestness. Why show more outward humility and urgency in this request than in the first? Because no one would doubt that he was truly serious when he prayed for himself. But praying for enemies goes against fallen human nature, so he gave clear proof that he really meant it.

His prayer itself was: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” In this he followed the example of his dying Master, who prayed, “Father, forgive them,” for those who were killing him. He also set an example for all later sufferers for Christ, showing them how to pray for those who persecute them. Prayer can preach. It did so to the men who stoned Stephen. He knelt so they would notice he was about to pray, and he cried out so they would hear what he said and learn two things.

First, what they were doing was sin, a great sin, and unless God’s mercy and grace kept them from it, it would be charged to them and bring everlasting shame. Second, even though they were full of hatred and rage against him, he was at peace with them. He was so far from wanting God to punish them for his death that he sincerely asked God not to lay that sin to their charge. A terrible account they would have to give for it.

If they did not repent, then their guilt would surely be held against them. Yet Stephen did not want that terrible judgment to come on them. Let them take note of this, and when their minds were calm, they would surely find it hard to forgive themselves for killing a man who was so ready to forgive them. “The bloodthirsty hate the upright, but the righteous seek his life” (Proverbs 29:10).

Third, although their sin was very great, they should not think it was beyond pardon if they repented. If they took this to heart, God would not count it against them. Saint Augustine said, “Do you think Paul heard Stephen pray this prayer? He likely did, and he mocked it then, but afterward he benefited from it and fared better because of it.” In other words, Stephen’s prayer may have helped even one of his enemies later.

Stephen’s death came with these words. When he had said this, he fell asleep, or, as he was still speaking, the fatal blow came. Death is only sleep for God’s people, not sleep for the soul, since Stephen had given his soul into Christ’s hands, but sleep for the body. It is rest from all its sorrows and hard labor, full release from weariness and pain. Stephen died in great haste, as quickly as anyone could, yet when he died, he fell asleep.

He turned to his dying work with as much calm as if he were simply going to bed. It was as if death were only closing his eyes. Notice also that he fell asleep while praying for those who were persecuting him. The way it is written suggests that he felt he could not die in peace until he had done this. It helps greatly to die well if we die at peace with everyone. Then we are found by Christ in peace. Let not the sun go down on our anger.

He fell asleep. The old Latin version adds, “in the Lord,” meaning in the loving embrace of Christ. If he sleeps this way, all will be well. He will wake again in the morning of the resurrection.