At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7: 57-60)
Although Stephen was only a deacon who managed food, he was a man of great faith, filled with the Holy Spirit, and full of wisdom. Stephen preached about Jesus Christ in front of the people with wisdom and the Holy Spirit, but the people were extremely angry and stoned him. So he became the first martyr of the New Testament church.
Paul witnessed this whole process. After Paul was illuminated by the Lord on the Damascus Road, he repented and believed, and he became another Stephen. Not only did Stephen have the enthusiasm and courage to witness to Jesus Christ in front of the people regardless of his life and safety, but Paul was also finally martyred for the gospel like Stephen.
In my opinion, Stephen's testimony also had an indelible impact on him. After Paul believed in the Lord, he would have certainly kept thinking of Stephen's testimony, and he would naturally follow him.
Stephen's testimony could be said to have created the greatest apostle in the history of the church. Not only was the apostle Paul influenced by Stephen ’s testimony, but all the saints throughout the ages also continued to imitate Stephen ’s style. Some people even took their spiritual names to be Stephen. Today, there are many witnesses, like clouds, surrounding us. The testimony of their lives not only encourages the saints of all ages but also constantly inspires us to walk the way of heaven.
Here we can see that the testimony of a person ’s life has a huge impact. But not all people ’s lives are inspiring, maybe some even cause others to fall.
A bad testimony may cause many people to fall, but a good testimony can inspire many people. Perhaps your testimony can also, like Paul’s, inspire another person to love the Lord, or inspire others to serve the Lord. Even if none of this is true, it will at least inspire more people seek after eternal life. In the long story of the church’s history, how many people who love the Lord have been inspired by the testimony of others, and how many people who were weak have been inspired by the testimony of others and stood up again?
Therefore, as a Christian, you must not underestimate your own testimony. Especially church leaders should have a good testimony, follow the teachings of the Bible, and live out the life of Jesus Christ.
(Note: The author of this article is a full-time co-worker of a grassroots church in Fujian province. )
- Translated by Abigail Wu
使徒行传灵修系列：不要轻视自己的见证
众人大声喊叫，捂着耳朵，齐心拥上前去，把他推到城外，用石头打他。作见证的人把衣裳放在一个少年人名叫扫罗的脚前。他们正用石头打的时候，司提反呼吁主说：“求主耶稣接收我的灵魂！”又跪下大声喊着说：“主啊，不要将这罪归于他们！”说了这话，就睡了。扫罗也喜悦他被害。（使徒行传7：57-60）
司提反虽然只是一个管理饭食的执事，可他却是大有信心、被圣灵充满、智慧充足的人。司提反以智慧和圣灵在众人面前传讲耶稣基督，众人却极其恼怒，反将他用石头打死，所以他成了新约教会的第一位殉道者。
保罗目睹了这个全部过程。当保罗在大马士革路上被主光照，悔改信主之后，他却成了另一个司提反。不仅有司提反的热心与勇气，敢于不顾性命安危在众人面前见证耶稣基督，最后也如同司提反一样为这福音殉道。
在我看来，司提反的见证也对他产生了不可磨灭的影响。保罗信主之后肯定也会不断的想起他的见证，自然也就会去效法他。
所以司提反的见证可以说，造就了一个教会史上最伟大的使徒。不单单使徒保罗受司提反见证的影响，历世历代的众圣徒也都不断地在效法司提反的样式，有些人甚至将自己的属灵名字也取名叫司提反。在今天，同样也有许多的见证人如同云彩围着我们，他们生命的见证不仅鼓励了历代的圣徒，也在不断的激励我们奔走天路。
在此我们可以看到一个人生命的见证所带来的影响是巨大的，可是并非所有人的生命都是能激励人的，有些人的生命反而是跌倒人的。
一个不好的见证可能会跌倒许多人，但是一个好的见证却能鼓舞激励很多人。或许你的见证也同样可以激励出另一个如同保罗这样爱主之人，或者激励他人去服侍主，就算这些都没有，但至少可以激励更多的人奔走天路。因为在教会历史的长河中，有多少爱主之人，都曾被他人的见证给鼓舞了，有多少在软弱中的人，被他人的见证所激励，再次刚强站立起来。
因此作为基督徒绝不可轻视自己的见证，特别是教会领袖更应该有好的见证，遵守圣经的教导，活出耶稣基督的样式。
（注：本文作者为福建一基层教会全职同工）
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7: 57-60)
Although Stephen was only a deacon who managed food, he was a man of great faith, filled with the Holy Spirit, and full of wisdom. Stephen preached about Jesus Christ in front of the people with wisdom and the Holy Spirit, but the people were extremely angry and stoned him. So he became the first martyr of the New Testament church.
Paul witnessed this whole process. After Paul was illuminated by the Lord on the Damascus Road, he repented and believed, and he became another Stephen. Not only did Stephen have the enthusiasm and courage to witness to Jesus Christ in front of the people regardless of his life and safety, but Paul was also finally martyred for the gospel like Stephen.
In my opinion, Stephen's testimony also had an indelible impact on him. After Paul believed in the Lord, he would have certainly kept thinking of Stephen's testimony, and he would naturally follow him.
Stephen's testimony could be said to have created the greatest apostle in the history of the church. Not only was the apostle Paul influenced by Stephen ’s testimony, but all the saints throughout the ages also continued to imitate Stephen ’s style. Some people even took their spiritual names to be Stephen. Today, there are many witnesses, like clouds, surrounding us. The testimony of their lives not only encourages the saints of all ages but also constantly inspires us to walk the way of heaven.
Here we can see that the testimony of a person ’s life has a huge impact. But not all people ’s lives are inspiring, maybe some even cause others to fall.
A bad testimony may cause many people to fall, but a good testimony can inspire many people. Perhaps your testimony can also, like Paul’s, inspire another person to love the Lord, or inspire others to serve the Lord. Even if none of this is true, it will at least inspire more people seek after eternal life. In the long story of the church’s history, how many people who love the Lord have been inspired by the testimony of others, and how many people who were weak have been inspired by the testimony of others and stood up again?
Therefore, as a Christian, you must not underestimate your own testimony. Especially church leaders should have a good testimony, follow the teachings of the Bible, and live out the life of Jesus Christ.
(Note: The author of this article is a full-time co-worker of a grassroots church in Fujian province. )
- Translated by Abigail Wu
