In the parable of the talents, when the servant entrusted with five talents returned ten to his master (Matt. 25:20), he was told, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord" (v. 21). Stephen was one who took the opportunity before him to serve the Lord in even greater capacities. Having been "faithful over a few things," God put him in charge "over many things." We pick up the story in Acts chapter six. "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people" (v. 8).
"Wonders" and "signs" in the original Greek are two words that are always used together in the New Testament. A "wonder" is a miracle so amazing that people do not soon forget (Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D., The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, [AMG International, Inc., 1992, revised edition, 1993], 1377). "Signs" is a word that indicates God is putting His stamp of approval on the work Stephen is doing (Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Abridged, [William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1985], 1172).
As a result, much opposition rose up against him and they were "disputing with Stephen" (v. 9), because of the message preached concerning the Savior Jesus Christ. "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke" (v. 10). They brought him before "the council" (v. 12) and brought "false witnesses" (v. 13) as well. "And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel" (v. 15).
Continuing in Acts 7, given the opportunity, Stephen took advantage and clearly preached the gospel to those who were on the council, along with all who were gathered there: "When they heard these things they were cut to the heart… But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, 'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!' Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him" (vv. 54-58a).
Stephen was faithful in a few things, just as he was faithful in many things. Great or small, whatever God asked of him, he did, no matter the cost. And for him the cost was his life as he became the first martyr to die for Christ. However, though they could take his life, they could not take his soul. They merely ushered him straight into the presence of his Savior in heaven.
What you do for Christ won't likely cost you your life, though it could bring strong opposition against you, as well as suffering. What Stephen understood was that Jesus was with him, bringing him through whatever he faced. The same is true for us. So we need not fear men because the worst they can do to us is to usher us into the presence of God. And that is not such a bad thing. So we must "take up our cross" and follow Jesus. Amen.
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