We May Never Know the Full Impact of Our Prayers
As the early church adds to their numbers, they experience growing pains. They need more people in leadership roles and elect seven to help with a daily food distribution. Stephen is one of those people.
Stephen is a remarkable man, full of God’s grace and power. He performs signs and wonders among the people. The opposition feels threatened by him. They arrest him and haul him before the Sanhedrin—their religious council (Acts 6).
Stephen Speaks
In his appearance before the religious leaders, the high priest questions Stephen. Stephen gives a smart summary of the key historical points of the Jewish people.
He starts with Father Abraham, covers the people’s captivity in Egypt, and talks about Moses leading them to the land God promised to give them.
He moves on to mention Joshua, David, and Solomon, who built the temple. Stephen then quotes from the writings of the prophet Isaiah.
He moves to a stern rebuke of his audience, calling them a stiff-necked people. He accuses them of resisting the Holy Spirit, persecuting the prophets, and killing Jesus (Acts 7:1-53).
Stephen Prays
This infuriates the members of the Sanhedrin. They lash out in anger, but Stephen seems unfazed. He gazes up into heaven and tells them he sees Jesus standing next to the Father.
Even more enraged, the religious leaders scream at him, rush him, and drag him out of the city. Intent on killing him, they begin to pelt him with rocks.
A young man named Saul witnesses the whole thing. He watches the coats of the people stoning Steven, giving them his tacit approval.
As Stephen is about to die, he prays. He asks Jesus to receive him and requests mercy for the people murdering him (Acts 7:54-60).
Saul Reacts
Saul approves of Steven’s execution and moves to do all he can to destroy the church (Acts 8:1-3). He even gets permission to go to Damascus to persecute Jesus’s followers there.
On the way he has a supernatural encounter with Jesus and is baptized (Acts 9:1-19).
Saul—later known as Paul—spends the rest of his life going throughout the area telling the people about Jesus. He brings about the conversion of many, starts several churches, and writes about half the books in the New Testament.
Paul later tells his protégé Timothy that he was the worst of all sinners, but God showed him mercy (1 Timothy 1:15-16), just as Stephen prayed.
Connecting Stephen and Saul
When Stephen asks God to not hold his death against those who are killing him, it’s an amazing request that not many could make. He’s in great agony, about to die, and asks for divine mercy of the people murdering him.
Of the throng who are present, the only person mentioned by name is Saul. Stevens request for mercy certainly applies to Saul, who approves the stoning.
Might Steven’s prayer for mercy pave the way for Saul’s later conversion? Though this may connect two events that don’t relate, Saul’s conversion—and subsequent ministry—could very well be the result of Steven’s selfless prayer.
How might things have been different had Steven not made this request?
Our Prayers Today
When we pray for others, sometimes we see the results of our prayers. Other times we do not.
We must also be aware that some answers to our prayers today won’t occur while we’re alive but will happen only after we die. But because we don’t see the answers to these prayers, doesn’t mean they’re not important.
May we pray bold prayers, whether we see the answers or not. May we be confident that God will bring about our request according to his perfect timing—even if it’s after we die.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
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