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Stephen Window The coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church on the day of Pentecost began a new chapter in the Story. Jesus no longer walked beside the disciples, but his Spirit filled and empowered them. They spoke in different languages, and Jews from every nation heard the gospel in their native tongues, breaking down barriers of language and bringing unity in Christ. Three thousand new believers were added to the Church in one day, and the Church in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly. Soon, in order to care for the new Christians, the apostles chose seven deacons to oversee the distribution of food to the poor among them; and Stephen was the first. He is described as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, who performed miracles and spoke with wisdom and power. After a time, Stephen came to the attention of those who opposed the Church. They accused him of blasphemy and brought him before the Sanhedrin. In his defense before the Council, Stephen eloquently unfolded the story of Jesus, beginning with Abraham, continuing through Moses, David, and the Prophets, and concluding with the rejection of Jesus, the Righteous One, by the same religious authorities whom he was addressing. The Council was furious, and when Stephen exclaimed that he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, they dragged him from the city and stoned him, while a Pharisee named Saul (later called Paul) looked on approvingly. Stephen was the first Christian martyr, and his execution precipitated a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, where Saul went from door to door looking for Christians to throw in prison. Many were forced to leave the primarily Jewish region around Jerusalem and Judea, and travel to foreign territory; but those who were scattered preached the word wherever they went, and so Stephen’s blood became the seed of Gentile Christianity. Through the years Christians have often faced opposition. Yet, in every generation the risen and ascended Christ (expressed in golden light at Stephen’s death) continues to flood the hearts of believers with his own Holy Spirit, transforming them and enabling them to boldly proclaim his gospel to the world. The survival and astounding growth of the early Church, against all odds, bears compelling witness to this extraordinary (if often paradoxical) experience of Christ’s power.
Like Stars Appearing: The Story of the Stained Glass
Windows of St. George's Episcopal Church, Dayton, Ohio | |||
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