In the Acts of Stephen
by Michael Doyle

More than the words of a church service,
Each of us is here to live out our purpose.
There are the moments that we are inspired
To move beyond exhaustion and tiredness.

There comes a time when something must be done,
And we are kept alive by the Father and the Son.
Stephen became a martyr bearing his witness,
Upholding his faith despite persistent harshness.

The weight of life is as hard as it is real.
Truth holds the profound beauty of the dead.
Preservation has always been part of the story.
Though it is painful, it is part of the glory.

Prayer best leads the spiritual journey.
And if we are faithful to our very destiny.
The early church was set out in holy Acts.
It is a witnessed testimony to the spiritual facts.

Growth comes to the Christian community,
And this brought conflict to the Christian family.
Leaders must be chosen from those with a good reputation.
This isn't trivial but an exacting point of limitation.

Lies often form the basis of accusations.
This was the case against Stephen in full explanation.
It is not blasphemy to end the concealment
And to speak plainly how Christ came as the Bible's fulfillment.

Integrity demands the dropping of all pretense.
Only what is true deserves our defense.
Jesus, standing to the right of God, stood in full authority,
And He did so to honor Stephen's wounded dignity.

Recognizing that frailty of mankind
As Stephen was stoned, he forgave his attackers for being blind.
Falsely accused of blasphemy, and not given any forgiveness,
Stephen asked God that fallen humanity be so forgiven.

It is given that to be Christian leads to persecution.
This is beyond any honest efforts at disputation.
Persecution has continued through our modern day.
Our best answer is to  quietly and earnestly pray. 

(c) October 21, 2026   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved