1. Acts 6:8–15 (ESV)
  2. Application

Obedience to Christ is always costly

Acts 6:8–15 (ESV)

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Though we are not told much about Stephen, he is a prominent figure in the book of Acts. His speech (Acts 7:2–53) is the longest speech in the whole of the book and he is also the first Christian martyr. Luke has given these details about his life not only to remember him for his faithful obedience, but also to show us what can happen to those who follow Christ.

There is a widespread assumption that the Christian life ought to be one of comfort and freedom. That is to say, we want to follow Jesus and listen to his commands without having to face opposition or suffering for our choices. We want the privileges that come from a relationship with Christ. The privilege of justification, sanctification, and glorification. But we do not want to suffer.

Jesus, however, has made it clear that suffering comes before glory. That was the pattern of his life and that is also the pattern in which he calls us to follow him (see Mark 8:31–37). In fact, Jesus told his followers on the night before his death that they would be hated and persecuted by the world (John 15:18–25). They will be put out of the synagogues and killed (John 16:1–4).

The life of Stephen confirms the reality of Jesus’ words and shows us that obedience to Christ is always costly. Even though he was well liked; even though he performed miracles of healing; even though he spoke with wisdom; even though he did everything right, he was nevertheless still arrested on trumped-up charges. He was hated because he sought to obey Christ, because he preached Christ.

In our obedience to Jesus Christ we will generally be tolerated by our families, colleagues, and friends as long as we do not say or do things that challenge them. If we refuse to go along with corruption in the workplace, that is when people turn against us. If we proclaim that Christ is the only way to God, that is when people get upset. When we refuse to play by the rules of society in our commitment to honouring Christ, we will face some kind of opposition. We should expect this and we should not be surprised when it happens.