Stoning of Stephen

THE STONING OF STEPHEN

(Acts 7.54-60)

'and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.' Acts 7.58

One of the great mysteries of life is that you never know how your actions and words may influence the lives of other people.

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Take for instance, the story of the stoning of Stephen.

Early on in the church's life, the local Jewish Christians began to complain about the apostles neglecting the day to day needs of the local congregations by concentrating too much upon their preaching of the Gospel.

After discussion, the apostles agreed that there was probably some truth in the accusation. In order to solve the problem, they asked the local congregations to select seven men from their members who could help with the day to day work. Among those chosen and appointed was one called Stephen.

He quickly established himself and also began to perform 'miracles and wonders'. This annoyed some of the critics of the church to such an extent, that they decided to bribe others to speak against him. This eventually led to his subsequent arrest, trial, conviction and ultimately, his death by stoning. Those responsible for this 'laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul'. As Stephen was dying, we are told that he knelt down and prayed, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them' echoing similar words used by Jesus at the time of his untimely death.

As I said earlier, we never know how our actions and words may influence the lives of others, and in this case, the keeper of the coats, namely, Saul.

Up until now, Saul had been an enthusiastic persecutor of Christians, which probably accounts for his presence at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Although Saul continued in his work of persecution, there is no doubt in my mind that this scene and the words of Stephen continued to haunt him. Eventually, he could quieten his conscience no more. He simply had to acknowledge the power and presence of God in his life. The climax came, as you will know, whilst he was travelling on the road to Damascus where he was struck blind and heard a voice which asked him why he was persecuting the church.

What I am suggesting is that the conversion of Paul was not a sudden experience, but rather a growing realisation which started at the manner of Stephen's death and culminated on the road to Damascus.

As you know, Paul went on to become possibly the greatest Christian missionary, travelling around the Mediterranean where he established numerous Christian communities, with whom he carried on an extensive correspondence, some of which is preserved in the pages of the New Testament.

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Let’s jump nearly two thousand years.

During the Second World War, Leonard Wilson was Bishop of Singapore. When the country was overrun by the advancing Japanese army, Wilson was captured and imprisoned in the notorious Changi prison. Here he celebrated the Eucharist for his fellow prisoners. Like so many of the prisoners, he was also severely beaten.

On one occasion, he says in his autobiography, as he was lying on his back being beaten, he looked up into the eyes of his Japanese torturers. He saw them, not as they were, cruel and sadistic; not as they had once been, innocent children; but as they were capable of becoming, redeemed by the love of God. When he did this, he realised that he could do no other than say, 'Father, forgive them’.

Four years later, after his release, he was conducting a Confirmation service. As he put his hands upon one of those present, he recognised him as having been one of his former torturers!

One never knows how much one's actions and words may influence the lives of others.

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Last year, whilst on holiday in South West England, I caught up with a friend I had not seen for many years called Bob Purrsell. He had been Churchwarden of St Andrew's Church when I had been Vicar of St Thomas', Keyham, in Devonport. He was also the Lay Chairman of the Plymouth Deanery Synod.

One day, I was particularly bored at a synod meeting and asked why could we not discuss things that really matter in life. I gave as an example an excellent report which had recently been produced by the Board of Social Responsibility of the Church of England entitled 'Dying Well'. It was on the subject of euthanasia.

Needless to say, I found myself shortly afterwards, introducing the report to the Deanery Synod. It was a cold night and I had the beginning of the flu, and felt as if I was dying on my feet!

At the end of the talk, my personal agony was prolonged by various questions. One in particular was about what practical action could the church take.

In reply, I talked about the then pioneering hospice work of Dr Celia Saunders, whereby people are enabled to die with dignity.

Shortly after that talk, I went to work in Australia and lost contact with Bob and his wife Sally, save for the usual Christmas card.

Imagine my surprise when Bob told me, that as a result of that talk and the reply to that particular question, he, together with three other people, had subsequently got together to explore the possibility of building a hospice in Plymouth.

Today, St Luke's Hospice in Plymouth, employs over two hundred people; has a financial turnover of four million pounds a year, and cares and supports hundreds of patients and their families.

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As I said at the beginning, it is one of the great mysteries of life that you never know how your words and actions may influence the lives of others.

Little did Stephen realise how he would influence the life of Saul, now known as Paul. Little did Leonard Wilson realise how he would influence the life of his Japanese torturer. And little did I realise how I would influence the lives of countless sufferers and their families in Plymouth.

The secret is not what we do or say, but what God is allowed to do and say through us.

I recently came across the following words of Cardinal John Newman, or Blessed John Newman, to give him his correct title.

'God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I but keep His commandments.

Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain; He knows what he is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me - still he knows what he is about.’