The Stephen--Paul Paradox

Recently I have been immersed in studying and preaching through the book of Acts. One story thread that kept emerging is how the lives of Stephen and Paul were intertwined.

Of course, there is the obvious connection made in Acts 7 which records Stephen’s martyrdom. We know that Saul (Paul) was present consenting to the death of Stephen, “And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul” (7:58; see also 22:20).

Steven uttered two prayers before he gave up the ghost. He prays first for himself, then for his enemies. Stephen’s prayers are attention-grabbing because they are strikingly similar to two of Jesus’ sayings from the cross (Luke 23:34, 46). It makes us wonder if Steven saw the crucifixion? Dr. Luke is skillfully showing us that Stephen lived a Christ-like life and died a Christ-like death.     

Stephen’s death was a great catalyst for turning Saul into Paul. God never wastes the blood of His saints! The church father Augustine once said, “If Stephen had not prayed, the church would not have had Paul.” Saul would never be able to get Stephen’s prayer out his mind and God would use His death as a convicting prick to stab at Saul’s heart; “Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 9:5).

But that’s only the beginning. The more I studied Acts, the more I began to see Stephen as a forerunner of Paul, and in many ways, Paul took up Stephen’s mantle. For example:

·         Stephen preached to the Jews in synagogues, reasoning with them that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 6:9). This set the pattern for Paul's initial ministry: When Paul went into a city, he would find the Jewish synagogue and would reason with them there from the Scriptures (Acts 9:20, 13:5, 13:15, 14:1, 17:1-2).

·         Both preformed signs and wonders (Acts 6:8; 14:3).

·         Stephen was accused of false charges and brought before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem (Acts 6:11-15). Likewise, Paul was falsely accused and brought before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem (Acts 21:16—23:11).

·         Stephen’s preaching incited an angry mob (Acts 7:54-58). Paul’s preaching incited six riots in the cities he visited: Lystra (14:19), Philippi (16:22), Thessalonica (17:5), Berea (17:13), Ephesus (19:29) and Jerusalem (21:30).

·         Stephen was stoned (Acts 7:59). Paul was stoned in Lystra and left for dead (Acts 14:19).

·         Stephen caught a glimpse of Jesus (Acts 7:55-56). Jesus appeared to Paul in prison (Acts 23:11).  

Everything that happened to Stephen, happened to Paul, and then some. What Stephen started; Paul finished. As the lyrics to Gospel song say, “You can bury the workman, but the work will go on.” I have often wondered what it was like for the first time when Paul and Steven finally met in heaven. I think Steven would have wrapped his arms around Paul and said, “Welcome my brother, what you meant for evil, God meant for good (Gen. 50:20).” -DM