Saints are sinners whom God has chosen, who are justified by the effectual redeeming shed blood of the LORD Jesus, and called to Him by the Spirit of grace, 1 Cor. 1:2.

What is the difference in how those who are the LORD’S die and those who perish without Christ? The stoning of Stephen gives us a beautiful picture of the peace, comfort, and consolation of those that die in the LORD, no matter how violent the death.

1. They die in the hope of the Christ of the cross in opposition to the world’s hatred:

^54” When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.” Such would be our enmity to Christ and His death were it not for the Spirit of God revealing Christ in us and causing us to identify with Him in life and death. Christ told His disciples, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you,” John 15:18. No one can appreciate the enmity there is between those who are the seed of the Woman (Christ) and the seed of the serpent (Satan). That hatred for Christ and His own is evident when they are confronted with the truth of Christ and His glory versus their depraved will and futile attempts at satisfying a holy God by their rebellious efforts of religion and tradition.

2. They die having a good hope in Christ Jesus alone:

^{55 “}But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly* into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Stephen being filled with the Holy Spirit did not fall out, speak in tongues, or experience some miraculous deliverance from death. Rather his eyes were turned heavenward to look to the LORD Jesus Christ alone. Who did he see? The crucified risen God/Man ruling, reigning, and directing even in the acts of the wicked men against one of His redeemed ones. O! What a glorious sight the Spirit of Christ gives in revealing in His own the Sovereign, Glorified, Successful, Victorious LORD Christ!

3. They die in the time and manner that God has purposed:

^{57 “}Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, ⁵⁸ And cast him out of the city, and stoned him:” Nothing touches one of the LORD’S own but what He ordains. This is how God determined from before time that Stephen should die. Those stoning him were but the instrument as to how God purposed to bring one of His own to Himself. Would that He give us such a comfort that in all that takes place, the LORD so ordained! Psalm 139.

4. They die knowing that the Word is not bound:

“and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.” Although it appeared to those killing Stephen that they were snuffing out the Word of Christ that He declared, yet, unbeknown to them was one of their own whom God would soon raise up and reveal Christ in him, Saul of Tarsus, that He go forth to the nations and preach this very Gospel that they so vehemently opposed. Saul of Tarsus would become Paul, minister of the LORD Jesus and ultimately declare victoriously, as with Stephen, “Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” 2 Timothy 2:9.

5. They die in the faith:

^{59 “}And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, LORD Jesus, receive my spirit.” As with all those of THE FAITH, nothing can shake that persuasion that God gives to His elect, redeemed ones. Whom He saves, by the blood of the LORD Jesus, He keeps. Hebrews 11:32-40.

6. The die in the grace of the LORD:

^{60 “}And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, LORD, lay not this sin to their charge.” They did not force him to his knees. He bowed willingly, and in so doing bowed to God’s will by His grace, in a forgiving spirit, toward those killing him. What grace! What mercy!

7. They die in the peace of the LORD: