Stephen would have been killed, not by his persecutors, but by the modern day empathy warriors.  The ones who believe the gospel is  “just be nice to everyone.”  “Empathy.” Or something like that.

Stephen was a powerful man.  He did not back down from proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and pointing out how the Old Testament directed people to believe in Jesus.  So…opposition arose with force.  But let’s get the back story.

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.  Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.  But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.  

Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”  And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,  and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:9-15).

Then the council allowed him to speak his defense.  With this, he began the long, detailed history of the story of the Jewish people.  They were probably feeling insulted by Stephens retelling because they, of all people, were the specialists of the history of the Jews.  He was speaking to them as if they did not know anything, but they were the supposed experts. Literally, he was speaking to the elders, teachers of the law, and high priest.

For most of Stephen’s defense, it is simply the story.  Then it all changed when Stephen said this:

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it” (Acts 7:51-53). 

At this point, the Jewish leaders picked up rocks and stoned him to death.  But one can’t help but wonder, if this happened in modern times, the world would be saying it was his own fault that he died, not the gospel.  Why?  Because he wasn’t nice.  He said mean words.  And words are violence.  Stephen should have been more “wise,” more “loving,” and approached evangelism differently.

Differently.

When we read the book of Acts, or even the gospels, the apostles and prophets were people of boldness.  They were often tender and gentle with sinners who needed welcome and healing, but when it came to the religious leaders who were hard of heart, they did not hold back.

• John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees “brood of vipers” (Mt 3:7) and preached fiercely to them to repent.
• Jesus called the Pharisees and Sadducees “hypocrites,” “blind guides,” and “white washed tombs” (Mt 23)
• Stephen said they were “stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears (Acts 7:51)
• Paul called the the high priest a “white washed wall” (Acts 23:3)

Grace for the common man.  Hard words for the heart of heart leaders.

Can you just hear if this happened today?

• “But John the Baptist, that isn’t caring for the people.  You deserved getting your head cut off.”
• “Jesus, that wasn’t nice what you said to them.  It’s not good outreach.  You probably could have done more instead of just offending everyone.  Where’s your empathy?  Crucifixion was bad, but it wasn’t unexpected considering how you spoke to people.”
• “Stephen, that’s not nice.  You got what was coming for you, beheading.”
• “Paul, that wasn’t kind.  You can’t speak to your leaders that way.  Where is your respect?  You deserved getting imprisoned and beheaded.”

The truth is that sometimes there needs to be truth to wake people up.  Remember, we do not see people speaking to the masses with this harshness.  Yes, there was always a call to repent.  Just like with the woman caught in adultery.  He showed her mercy, but also called her to repent.

But sometimes hearts are heart and need boldness.  Especially with religious leaders who have persisted with sin and unrepentance.

And yes, it just might cost your life.

Not just from the hands of persecutors.

But also, in this day and age, from the actions of the empathy warriors.