God requires His people to deal truly, and not give consent to falsehood and wickedness.
Stephen refused to assent to the underlying hypocrisy of his accusers, but blasted the foundation of their accusations, by showing that they had betrayed Moses, and broken the law, and polluted the temple, and murdered the prophets, and slain Messiah.
For that testimony to the truth, they stoned Stephen.
Out of the murder of the martyr Stephen, comes the most depraved example in Scripture of giving consent to falsehood and wickedness.
Acts records its beginning: "and Saul consented to his death." Saul actively gave consent to this barbarous act by serving as a witness to their crimes.
This is a consent to falsehood and evil that goes far beyond consent given based upon fear, or shame, or embarrassment. This is the worst, an active consent, actual agreement with falsehood and sin.
Saul didn't actually participate in the dirty work of throwing stones at Stephen, but his consent facilitated the murder.
Saul was supposed to be a Pharisee, one who claimed to obey God's law perfectly, yet here he applauded murderers.
Saul's assent didn't stop there, however. Scripture reports that he commenced active persecution of Christ's church, with kidnappings and murders to follow.
In this is a solemn warning: consent toward falsehood and wickedness may well progress downward to the uncontrollable, active commission of horrific deeds.
But praise God, Saul was soon confronted by the true target of his persecutions, the Lord Jesus!
On the way to more wicked acts, Christ shone in His glory on the road to Damascus, confronting Saul with his crimes against Messiah Himself! |
