He met a violent death, Stephen, often called the first martyr of the New Testament Church.

After preaching a brilliant Sermon, tracing Jewish history right up to the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus … the Jewish “Council” (Sanhedrin) first “gnashed on him with their teeth” and then “ran upon him with one accord!” But most despicable of all … “They cast him out of the city, and stoned him.” Acts 7:58

He will be dead within minutes.

Then the Bible, describing this godly man’s “departure” from this earthly life, simply says: “He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, HE FELL ASLEEP.” Acts 7:60

Wow!

Not … “He succumbed to the torturous plain!”

Not “He died cursing his murderers!”

Not … “He died struggling for breath!”

Just … “He fell asleep!”

Sort of an “absent from the body … present with the Lord” situation, though Paul will not write those words for a few more years. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

An old Bible commentator of bygone years expressed it this way: “Stones battered his body, but he fell asleep.”

Then he added: “No matter how fierce the storm may blow here, for the Christian … death is sleep, sleep to be broken in upon when our blessed Lord returns to take His people Home; then those who sleep in Jesus will rise first to meet the Lord in the air.”

Lovely!

Are you saved?

Are you ready should death come?

Stephen certainly was.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.