We’re told Stephen was chosen by his brethren to serve tables, so the apostles could give themselves totally to ministering the Word and to prayer. It is written of him, he was filled with the Holy Ghost, wisdom, faith, and power. And this servant of servants did great wonders and miracles; no doubt, the result of humbling himself to such a position. Also it is recorded, the people could not resist the wisdom and spirit in which he spoke. And the climatic tribute the Holy Spirit gives to this saint is, “And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”
One individual sitting in the council seeing and hearing Stephen was a young man known as Saul. He later gave his vote to extinguishing the life of this “firebrand.” He was successful in snuffing out the breath but not the blaze. This martyr's testimony continued burning in Saul’s heart till the close of his own life and ministry. It is doubtful Stephen realized the far reaching influence his life would have, both in time and eternity, upon one of the greatest spiritual leaders this world has or ever will know: PAUL the APOSTLE! Stephen’s life hounded Paul until it at last it drove him into the arms of Jesus.
Strong-willed people such as Paul are not easily influenced by others, or anything else, as far as that goes. But in Stephen’s case, as His Lord, his life brought the “wild creature” into submission to his Creator, Lord and God. Job tells us, man is born like a wild ass's colt. Wild, stubborn, untamed. Interestingly, Jesus sat on such in His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. A colt on whom never a man sat, but gentleness personified tamed the wild beast. Can you not now hear Paul before the Throne repeating David’s words, “Thy gentleness hath made me great.”
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