I remember watching a video once, where a former satanist stated that they were warned against causing a saint’s downfall. Although it was related to sin, I’ve wondered if it applied to persecution also. If that’s the case, maybe Paul’s conversion-conviction was inevitable. For that, we must go back to the beginning of his story when he was still Saul. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Acts 8:1 AMP
[1] Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death. And on that day, a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
Where He Started
Saul wholeheartedly approved Stephen’s death. This sounds like gang warfare, where the warlord calls for an execution and gives his seal of approval. One expects to hear that kind of action in many places, but not as part of the biblical narrative. Less so against the post-Pentecost Jesus followers. But it did happen.
With Y’shua Jesus’ death, the war in the heavens was visibly waged on earth. This resulted in losses on the side of the saints and seemingly limited inroads with the detractors. Several saints met persecution and painful deaths subsequent to the war against followers of the Way. But things were about to change.
Among those detractors was Saul of Tarsus. In Acts 7, we’re told that when Stephen the deacon was tried, under God’s anointing, he preached to the people. Infuriated by the implications of Stephen’s sermon, ‘witnesses’ placed their precious items at the feet of a supporter, Saul. They then went outside the city limits to stone Stephen. While he didn’t actually stone Stephen, Saul’s tacit collusion in keeping watch, as well as his ‘approval’ of the proceedings, deemed him an accessory.
Stephen died placing coals on their heads, by praying God’s forgiveness – Y’shua-style – over his persecutors. It was their undoing, and none realized it. For change was coming, just like the ex-satanist indicated. Someone was going to meet Y’shua. That someone was Saul, the accessory to murder.
Self-Check
Siblings, what would you do in Stephen’s situation? I strongly suspect that forgiveness would be far from my mind as they prepared to murder me in cold blood.
Application
As an accessory to Stephen’s murder, the prayer also included Saul. But, caught up as he was in the skirmish, he failed to realize that he was a man marked by blood. Stephen’s blood … forged in God’s love. Little did Saul know that his involvement in Stephen’s sealed his fate. The Saul he was then could not fathom the Paul he would become. Where and how he started was not where he would finish by God’s grace.
[I can’t help but digress for a bit to think about the widespread world wars waged at present. Some sound like gang warfare … local rivalling factions … others are at the level of overt civil wars … others are multinational. While my hope is simplistic, I just wonder about what could happen if the warring factions were to forgive each other sincerely and in Christ. But then, that would require that kind of profound relationship with Christ. Hmmn.]
Point to Ponder
Unknown to Saul, the seismic spiritual shift began that moment he showed up for Stephen’s murder and facilitated the persecution of the other believers. Might we also pay for God to transform us, and others like Saul, so that others may come to know Christ and the power of His redeeming blood.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
