How does Acts 22:20 connect with Stephen's martyrdom in Acts 7? Setting the Scene: Two Moments in Acts • Acts 7:54-60 – Stephen, “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,” proclaims Christ and is stoned outside Jerusalem. • Acts 22:17-21 – Years later, the same city hears Paul’s testimony. In verse 20 he references that earlier execution, identifying himself as the on-site accomplice. Paul’s Memory of Stephen in Acts 22:20 “And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.” (Acts 22:20) • “Your witness” (Greek: martys) spotlights Stephen’s role as Christ’s faithful spokesman. • Paul confesses three actions: “stood,” “giving my approval,” “watching over.” Each underscores active involvement, not mere bystander status. Direct Links Between the Two Passages 1. Identical setting – Jerusalem, outside the council. 2. Identical victim – Stephen, the first recorded Christian martyr. 3. Identical detail – clothing laid at Saul’s feet (Acts 7:58). 4. Identical hostility – a crowd enraged by the proclamation that Jesus is the Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 22:14). 5. Transformation highlighted – the persecutor of Acts 7 becomes the preacher of Acts 22. Theological Significance of the Link • Proof of Scripture’s historical precision: Paul cites a specific, verifiable moment first narrated earlier in Acts. • Guilt acknowledged, grace magnified: “I was formerly a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man” (1 Timothy 1:13). Stephen’s death becomes exhibit A for the mercy shown to Paul. • Stephen’s final prayer, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60), is answered in Paul’s conversion. • Martyrdom’s ongoing witness: the seed of Stephen’s blood bears fruit in Paul’s missionary life (John 12:24). Supporting Scriptures That Illuminate the Connection • Acts 7:58 – “The witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.” • Acts 8:1-3 – “Saul approved of Stephen’s killing” and intensified persecution. • Acts 26:9-11 – Paul recounts persecuting believers “even to foreign cities.” • 1 Timothy 1:12-16 – Paul presents himself as “chief” of sinners saved to display Christ’s perfect patience. • Luke 23:34 – Jesus’ prayer for His killers foreshadows Stephen’s and frames God’s redemptive pattern. Lessons to Draw • God’s sovereignty weaves even persecution into His saving plan. • Genuine repentance involves honest confession of past sins (Acts 22:20). • The faithful witness of one believer can catalyze widespread gospel impact far beyond his own life. |
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