Stephen's Story

Acts chapter 7 takes us through one of the most pivotal moments in early church history—the martyrdom of Stephen, the first person to die for following Jesus. What makes Stephen's story so compelling is not just how he died, but how he lived. When given the opportunity to defend himself before the religious leaders who arrested him, Stephen chose to retell the entire history of Israel, from Abraham through Moses to David. His point was clear: throughout history, God's people have consistently seen Him at work, made promises to follow Him, become disappointed when things didn't go their way, and then forgotten their covenant. This pattern of inconsistency reveals something deeply human about all of us. We love God when He does what we want, but pull back when life gets complicated or when His plans don't align with ours. Yet even in our fickleness, God remains steadfastly faithful—He will never leave us nor forsake us. Stephen's final moments mirror Jesus' own death, as he cries out for God to receive his spirit and asks that his killers not be held accountable. His life had prepared him for this moment because he loved Jesus more than anything else, including his own life. The question we must wrestle with is this: Are we living in a way that prepares us for whatever comes next? Who is truly leading our lives?