I was impressed today as I read through Stephen's sermon in Acts 7.  We understand we must be like Christ.  Stephen is a great example of this Christ-likeness.

1.  Stephen's accusers brought the same issues against him as they had against Jesus. (Acts 6:11 - "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God."  Acts 6:13-14 - "They put forward false witnesses who said, 'This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.'")

2.  Stephen preached the truth to them in the face of death (Acts 7).

3.  As they stoned Stephen to death, he "cried with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them!'" (Acts 7:60).

I was impressed by his sermon.  The great bulk of the sermon was about Moses.  The Israelites rejected Moses the first time he attempted to deliver them.  Remember, he killed the Egyptian who was beating one of his brethren.  The next day he tried to break up a fight between two Israelites and they basically spat in his face.  They said "Who made you a ruler and judge over us?" (Acts 7:27).  In fact, GOD was raising this Moses up to be a ruler and a judge over them (Acts 7:35)!  Even after Moses came with the power of God to lead them out of Egypt, the Israelite "fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt" (Acts 7:39).

What was his point?  Israel had ALWAYS rejected God's great rulers.  Moses said to Israel, "God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren" (Acts 7:37).  Jesus was that "prophet like" Moses.  Israel had rejected Jesus in an even more violent way - they hung Him on a tree to die.

Stephen spoke the cold, hard truth.  It's not really a great wonder they stoned him to death.  But the truth had to be spoken!  It'll be great to see Stephen in heaven one day.

God bless,
Nathan