Acts 7:51-60: a reflection

51“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 52Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. 53You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!” 54Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears, then rushed at him with one accord. 58They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen, having boldly testified to the truth, is dragged out and stoned. And in his dying moments, two things shine out. First, full of the Holy Spirit, he looks up and sees the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand to receive him. And second, as the stones fall, he prays for his killers: Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Even as he is being murdered, Stephen looks to Jesus and forgives those who are killing him.

Notice how Stephen dies: seeing Jesus, and forgiving his enemies. In the moment of being wronged to death, he does not curse his killers or cling to bitterness; he prays for their forgiveness, echoing the very words of Jesus on the cross. And he is able to do this because his eyes are fixed on Jesus, whom he sees standing to receive him. The vision of Jesus freed him to forgive even those taking his life.

That is a hard and holy example, of forgiving those who wrong us, even grievously, with our eyes fixed on Jesus. We are not often called to Stephen's extremity; but we are often wronged, and tempted to bitterness and the desire for the wrong to be held against the one who did it. Stephen shows another way: to pray, even for those who wrong us, that it not be held against them, with our eyes on the Jesus who forgave his own killers. When you are wronged, and bitterness rises, look to Jesus, as Stephen did, and ask him for the grace to forgive, even to pray for the good of the one who wronged you. It is the vision of Christ, who forgave from the cross, that frees us to forgive; fix your eyes on him, and let him make you able to forgive as Stephen did.

Lord Jesus, as Stephen was being stoned, full of the Holy Spirit he saw the glory of God and you standing to receive him; and even as the stones fell he prayed, do not hold this sin against them, forgiving those who were killing him. Set that hard and holy example before me: of forgiving those who wrong me, with my eyes fixed on you. I am not often called to Stephen's extremity; but I am often wronged, and tempted to bitterness and the desire for the wrong to be held against the one who did it. Stephen shows me another way: to pray, even for those who wrong me, that it not be held against them, with my eyes on you, who forgave your own killers. When I am wronged, and bitterness rises, help me look to you, as Stephen did, and ask you for the grace to forgive, even to pray for the good of the one who wronged me. It is the vision of you, forgiving from the cross, that frees me to forgive; fix my eyes on you, and make me able to forgive as Stephen did. Give me a forgiving heart, Lord, even toward those who wrong me most.