The Stoning of Stephen
54 When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. 55 But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died,
In following the spirit through the scriptures, we find that there is some connection between the life-giving Holy Spirit and our lives/breath/spirit.
This dramatic story of the stoning to death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, has two references to the word. Like we are promised at other places in the Bible, this believer, Stephen, was filled with the Holy Spirit. And in that Spirit, Stephen viewed God’s glory in its fullness.
And as he breathed his last, Stephen asked his Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. (What fills us also leads us home.)
Prayer
God, breathe your living, enriching Spirit into me. And let me go where that spirit leads. Amen.