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a Martyr’s Glorious Death
Act 7:47-60
Words like these could not be forgiven. The growing irritation of the audience seems to have extorted those burning remonstrances, and to have hastened the final scene. But the storm that burst around Christ’s faithful confessor and first martyr could not disturb his serenity. His heart was fixed, trusting in God, Psa 108:1. The peace of God garrisoned his heart and mind. At the moment when his foes were fiercest, the presence of Jesus, who had risen from sitting to standing, in order to encourage and welcome him, was most vital. It will always be even so. You will never know the completeness of Christ’s comradeship till you have weathered a storm in His company.
They were particular not to violate the sanctity of the Temple, but not so in respect to the pure temple of the young martyr’s body. The dying Stephen did not forget the Lord’s prayer for those who crucified Him, and he followed his Master’s steps in this also. Amid the murderous flight of stones, he slept as a tired child on his mother’s breast; and from that hour his patience, gentleness, and strength became as pricking goads in the heart of Saul of Tarsus.