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It is written about Stephen that when he preached to the Jewish religious leaders, they could not refute the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke (Acts 6:10). That can be our experience too, when we speak. Stephen went on to ask them, “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?” (Acts 7:52). Every single prophet in Old Testament times was unpopular and persecuted. A prophet is different from a teacher. A teacher may be accepted by many, but a prophet is usually rejected and unpopular. A teacher is a non-controversial figure. A true prophet however is always controversial. So prophets are always persecuted, but not teachers and evangelists. Stephen preached in such a way that they were convicted. This made them so angry that they killed him. He was the first martyr in the Christian church (Acts 7:54, 55).

The way you react to people who do evil to you could trigger a reaction in someone watching you that could result in his salvation.
In the words written about Stephen in Acts 7:55–60, we see some marks of a truly Spirit-filled prophet:
1. His mind is steadfastly set on heavenly things.
2. He sees the glory of God in all situations.
3. He is unruffled by the opposition of men.
4. His vision is fixed on Jesus at the right hand of God.
5. He testifies boldly about this Risen Christ.
6. He is persecuted and at times killed.
7. He forgives his persecutors and prays for them.

God allowed Stephen to be killed for many reasons – one of which was the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. I wonder if Paul would have been converted if he had not seen Stephen’s attitude when he was being killed.

When the Roman centurion heard the way Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him, he was convinced that Jesus was the Son of God.

When Paul heard the way Stephen prayed, his conscience began to prick him and he began to think, “This cannot be a false religion. Maybe I am wrong.” Later, on the Damascus road, the Lord told him, “It is hard for you to keep on kicking against the pricks of your conscience” (Acts 26:14) – and he was converted.

The way you react to people who do evil to you could trigger a reaction in someone watching you that could result in his salvation. Paul was just the first of many thousands who have been converted in the past 2000 years by seeing the godly reaction of Christians to persecution. But to react like that, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

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