Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. 

 

For the past several days, we have been studying the life, ministry, and death of Stephen. Here in the first Verse of Chapter 8, we find the first mention of Saul who would later be known as Paul, the man who God used to write most of the New Testament.

 

In the first statement, we find that Saul was present and consented to the stoning of Stephen. And Saul was consenting unto his death. We know that Saul sat under the instruction of Gamaliel and was being groomed to be his replacement. Paul was a brilliant young man with much potential. He is believed to be the most educated man on earth at that time.

 

As God would have it, Saul was present to hear Stephen’s Sermon/History lesson he gave just prior to being stoned. If you take time to read his entire message (Acts 7:1-50) you find that Stephen reminds them of their History and God’s Plan for the Messiah. Saul was there that day and listened to the whole thing.

 

I find it interesting that they let Stephen speak for so long. They could have just shut him up and stoned him straight away, but they didn’t. I believe this is due to the Mercy of God and His desire for some of these men (including Saul) to repent and give their hearts to Jesus Christ, their Messiah. However, the Scriptures do not lead us to believe that any did.

 

What is very interesting is that Saul listened to Stephen as he told the history and laid out God’s Plan for the New Covenant. Saul knew the history very well but he did not understand God’s Plan for the New Covenant. Saul didn’t want to hear about the New Covenant. He hated the Church and took part in stoning Stephen to death.

 

Little did he know that with Stephen’s words fresh in his mind, he would soon be stricken down on the Road to Damascus and meet this Messiah, Jesus, face to face! That experience would totally change Saul even down to changing his name to Paul. God would go on to use him to be one of the strongest Christians to ever live, share the Gospel of Christ, and plant Christian Churches all over the region. Not to mention that God would have him write 2/3 of the New Testament! Only God could do such a thing!

 

 

Only God can……….turn the tide……….in someone’s life like He did Saul.

 

Only God!        Doreen

 

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