They pray that God will give them increased boldness to preach the gospel even in the face of persecution.
They pray that God will "stretch out his hand" to perform mighty healing works and signs and wonders.
Reading along, we see this came to pass.
Sunday, July 19, 2020
What a loser, What a Failure, What a Tragedy, What a Waste!
I was reading the account of Stephen's stoning in Acts 6.
A sincere and godly young man is senselessly murdered.
Three likely reactions:
His enemies.
They would have reacted with contempt. "What a loser, What a Failure",
"We won".
His sympathizers.
"What a Failure, What a Tragedy".
His loved ones would have had unspeakable anguish and agony.
But there is a third reaction, a supernatural reaction.
Looking at this with God's eyes, not human eyes.
It is the same perspective that Jesus reprimanded Peter for not having when he said, "Get thee behind me Satan".
But in truth, stories like this are hard to accept.
Stephen cries out, "Lord, do not hold this against them".
There is no justice for him. The high priests Annas and Caiaphas are still alive some 30 years later.
There is no comfort that justice was done in AD 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed, because the high priests responsible, lived long lives.
A sincere and godly young man is senselessly murdered.
Three likely reactions:
His enemies.
They would have reacted with contempt. "What a loser, What a Failure",
"We won".
His sympathizers.
"What a Failure, What a Tragedy".
His loved ones would have had unspeakable anguish and agony.
But there is a third reaction, a supernatural reaction.
Looking at this with God's eyes, not human eyes.
It is the same perspective that Jesus reprimanded Peter for not having when he said, "Get thee behind me Satan".
But in truth, stories like this are hard to accept.
Stephen cries out, "Lord, do not hold this against them".
There is no justice for him. The high priests Annas and Caiaphas are still alive some 30 years later.
There is no comfort that justice was done in AD 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed, because the high priests responsible, lived long lives.
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