The Stoning Of Stephen
THE STONING OF STEPHEN
ACTS 7:54–8:1a
Even while they were furious at being charged by their prisoner, Stephen passed on to them this glimpse of Christ in glory.
A colorless neutrality was impossible in view of the forthright declarations in Stephen’s speech. The violent language of 7:54 makes it clear that he had touched his hearers on a tender spot and they reacted by cutting short his sermon in an outburst of rage.
Stephen’s vision (7:55) is full of meaning, and gives the key to his whole thought. He sees the exalted Jesus as victorious Son of Man, destined like the celestial figure of Daniel 7:13ff. to possess world-dominion, and worthy of worship. Here is the clear statement of Stephen’s Christology: he “saw that the Messiah was on the throne of the Universe” (W. Manson), and so by implication the Head of a worldwide church. His characteristic name for Jesus is “Lord,” which has the same implication, and he calls upon him in prayer (so confessing his place within the Godhead).
Note the one final “blasphemy”—from their point of view—which called forth the murderous spite of 7:57-58.
Stephen died, like his Master, with a prayer of committal and forgiveness on his lips (Luke 23:34,46). His death was probably more a lynching than a judicial execution for blasphemy; there was no trial, and Jewish law had an elaborate arrangement to safeguard the guilty person, accused of blasphemy and therefore condemned to death by stoning, if he should recant or if a witness for the defense should suddenly appear on the scene. Then the stoning must be stopped. It seems clear that no such precautions were made for Stephen’s benefit and he fell victim to the mob violence of an uncontrolled crowd. The most impressionable person in this sordid scene seems to have been Saul, who both looked after the witnesses’ clothes—these witnesses for the prosecution were to carry out the sentence, according to Leviticus 24:14; Deuteronomy 17:7 (cf. John 8:7)—and, by his complicity, agreed with the rough “justice” meted out. He never forgot this awful sight (Acts 22:20), and his personal involvement in such violence (1 Timothy 1:13). Yet this martyrdom may have been the turning point in his life, as Augustine believed: “If Stephen had not prayed, the church would not have had Saul.”
Notes 7:59-60: the links with Luke’s Passion story are important. He has captured the spirit of the dying Jesus, who rises to greet the first Christian martyr. Contrast 2 Chronicles 24:22.