Devotionals by Raul Ries

WEDNESDAY April 8, 2026

The First Martyr

And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Acts 7:59

God not only used Peter’s life, but He also used Stephen’s life. He was called upon to serve tables with six other men who were chosen for the task. What was the main criteria that qualified them to serve? The men were to be filled with the Holy Spirit:

...the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”...And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus ...  whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them (Acts 6:2-6).

God used Stephen mightily because he was full of faith and the Spirit’s power. He did great signs and wonders among the people (Acts 6:8), but there were those who wanted to dispute with him concerning the Gospel.  What were they unable to do? They were not able to resist the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke (Acts 6:10).

Evil men stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes. Stephen was seized and brought before the council (Acts 6:11-12). Stephen was a man of the Word, and in Acts 7, he delivered a historic message, beginning with Abraham, the Patriarchs in Egypt, God’s deliverance of Israel by Moses, Israel’s rebellion, God’s true tabernacle, and ending the message with a fiery rebuke: “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit...” (Acts 7:51).

Stephen continued his rebuke. He told of how they killed those who spoke of the coming of Christ, and that they were the ones guilty of killing Jesus. They were betrayers and murderers! They were cut to the heart, but not towards repentance. The elders ...cast him out of the city and stoned him (Acts 7:58). Stephen became the first martyr of the early Church.

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
~Tertullian~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!