Stephen was the first martyr of the church that was established by Jesus. A large group of religious enemies disputed with Stephen even though he was full of faith and power and did great wonders and miracles among the people. How senseless and obsessed the enemies became when they were confronted with the truth. They were members of the Council who intended to stand in the way of God’s program.
In reply to their accusations, Stephen offered a sensitive history lesson of his own people. When he turned his lesson into accusations about the murder they committed against Jesus, they became incensed. He called them stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears. He verbally assaulted them with accusations of killing the prophets sent by God. Stephen referred to them as betrayers and murderers. They could no longer h tolerate his accusations and became a violent mob with the intent to kill him.
His prayers consisted of requesting Jesus to receive his spirit and before dying cried out asking that God not to lay their sin to their charge. They were fuming with no desire to seek forgiveness from their victim who interceded in their behalf without such a request to be forgiven. He forgave them without them asking for forgiveness. He followed the same example of Christ himself who when he was crucified, said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
We can learn from Stephen and Christ when both were facing death, exercised the spirit of forgiveness whether or not forgiveness was requested from the killers. Ask yourself what does this mean to us? They both forgave. They both were concerned about the spiritual needs of their perpetrators. Neither faced death holding a grudge against those who deserved it. Forgiveness is a two-sided coin. On one side, the one offended displays a spirit of forgiveness that was unconditional. On the other side the offender did not request forgiveness even though it was available.
Because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, the Heavenly Father is reconciled with the spirit of forgiveness for sinners. In other words, those people who go to hell do so with their sins forgiven but not applied to their spirits. They choose to go to hell because they refuse to believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Forgiveness and belief are vital.
Christian Writer 