What An Introduction

Acts 7:55-60

Since Easter, the lectionary has been taking us on a journey through Acts, focusing on the words and actions of Peter and the earlier disciples as they formed little communities of "believers". It became the goal of these disciples to continue the teachings of Jesus regardless of what might happen to them, and things did happen - jailings, public humiliation, temple outcasts, even death. It would seem just as things are going along fine and new disciples are given tasks of trying to improve people's lives, something terrible happens to stop them in their paths.

Today's passage, however, is one that's just too difficult to accept; even knowing that good eventually comes from it.

The work of healing and teaching was becoming a heavy burden on the apostles and they needed help with the day-to-day care of the people - feeding the poor, visiting the sick, etc. Stephen becomes one of those appointed by the apostles to be of the first deacons of the community. Unfortunately, he is accused of spreading heresy and stoned to death in a very violent, public way.

That's not really the part of the story I'm focusing on. This particular passage is our introduction to Saul, aka Paul. Towards the middle of the passage we see the people "lay coats" at the feet of Saul, who at this time is described as a young man. Knowing what we know about the laying of coats at the feet of someone, we are introduced to this young man, Saul, as someone who is praised as a great leader, the one who will finally bring an end to all the silly-ness the disciples and people of Jesus have brought upon them.

If we read on to the first line of Acts 8 we see how "Saul approved of their killing him." Our first introduction to Saul is that of someone who is a ruthless, ambitious, young man who is praised for the violence he approves of.

Like I said, if I didn't know how the story would turn out I wouldn't be a big fan of Saul, aka Paul. And, maybe that's the point. Maybe the reader of Acts at this point is supposed to develop a hatred for Saul as the evil villain. Maybe our passion, and compassion, for the apostles and followers of Christ is supposed to make us want to leap through the pages and take Saul and do to him what he "approves" of being done to others.

What stops us? Perhaps the teachings of Jesus to be a non-violent change in the world does.

The story within Acts will continue to unfold towards the Pentecost. As it does let's try to take a look at our own path towards the coming of the Holy Spirit into everyone, even the Sauls of the world.