Stephen - a model of personal witness - Acts 7v1-8v3

7th May
Acts 7v1 - 8v3
Stephen - a model of personal witness
Later in life, Peter advised Christians to always be prepared to give an account of the hope that is in them, doing it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3v15).  No one exemplified this more than Stephen at his trial.  He knew the scriptures in and out, he definitely knew the grounds on which he stood.  What made him so eloquent at his trial? What made his face to shine like the angels in chapter 6v15?  How come Stephen shouted with exclamation while the rulers gnashed their teeth in fury?

Obvious reasons:
1.    Steve was full of the Holy Spirit (v55).  Did not the Lord enjoin his disciples not to fret when brought before the authorities to account for the hope in them, promising that the Holy Spirit will give them utterance at that point (Lk 21v12-15)? Stephen was part of those who prayed for boldness after the initial trial and was baptized with the Holy Spirit of power along with the others (Acts 4v27-31).  Indeed, there is no alternative to an effective personal witness outside the in filling of the Holy Spirit.
2.    Stephen was armed with the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Eph.6v17).  Even at the point of death, he remembered to pray the prayer of his Lord and Master regarding the forgiveness of his persecutors (v60).  My witness can only be authentic to the extent that I meet and know the object of witness inside out and this is only possible as I spend time in the word.  - know the word;  pray the word;  Spend time in it.  Soak your whole being with the word of God - you can never lose.
3.    He had a vision of his destination - He saw the glory of God. He saw his Christ standing at the right hand of God the Father.  Death was no longer something to be feared but a gateway home. The visions of His glory dulled the pain of the stones being thrown at him by the mob hence he could, with his eyes fixed on Jesus, pray for the forgiveness of those torturing him.
4.    Stephen was in constant communion with his Christ. He stayed plugged into his source of power.  He was a man of prayer.  His prayer was not to destroy his enemies; it was not to lessen the pain.  It was to enjoy the fellowship of Christ in all His glory.
Lord, make me an effective witness in Jesus name.  AMEN.