SCRIPTURE: Acts 7 

KEY POINTS TO PONDER: Remember how Peter used the credibility of the Bible in many of his speeches (Acts 3)? Here we see Stephen give the longest speech in all of Acts, in which he shares with the old guard leadership an account of Biblical history. This is a summary of the Bible, Stephen points out a truth that left the religious leaders literally grinding their teeth in anger. And what was that truth which Stephen so expertly drew out of his speech? Those who are called by God have always been rejected, despised, and cast out by the very people who they were called to lead. Abraham was called to leave his people and become a foreigner in another land. Joseph was rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery before becoming a great ruler in Egypt. And Moses fled his own people and then came back to lead them out of slavery even as they continued to reject him as leader. Upon hearing this speech, the religious leaders were aware that they were the ones rejecting God’s chosen leader. They were the ones who had been fighting against God, while Jesus was the true leader. And the disciples were facing this same rejection that Jesus and all the prophets faced! But knowing that Jesus had already conquered death and sin, they could face this rejection and out-casting bravely, even with joy and deep love for the ones persecuting them. 

CHALLENGING TERMS: When Stephen is stoned and prays that God does not hold the people’s sins against them, it says that he “fell asleep.” This phrase is a Christian expression for death, which reflects the fact that there will be a future resurrection. 

REFLECTION: How does knowing that those who have been called by God have always been outcast and rejected, even “the scum of the earth” (1 Corinthians 4:13) affect your perspective of your faith? 

PRAYER: Jesus, thank you that even as we face rejection from many for following you that we can keep loving and serving, knowing you have ultimate power. 

Pray for strength to face suffering and rejection just as so many others have faced.