When the pressure was upon him, Stephen gave an anointed, concise defense of the Gospel to the Christ-resistant Jewish religious leaders of his day. Showing a healthy grasp of Hebrew history, he identified their hypocrisy and heretical persecution of Christ and His followers. He obviously loved Jesus more than he did his own life, for they promptly took him outside the city and stoned him to death.

We hereby examine our own lives and testimony. Are we up to Stephen’s courage? Are we full of God’s Spirit likewise? Stephen places a high benchmark of Christian courage and witness for us to emulate.

READ/LISTEN: Acts 5-7