
So far as we've studied the explosion of the church in Jerusalem, we've seen the movement was led by the apostles. We come to a turning point in God's plan for church explosion as we encounter the first account of the witness of someone other than an apostle. His name is Stephen, and when we first met him he was chosen to help serve the widows in the church making sure all were treated equally. Now we find him sharing the gospel so effectively, that all his enemies can do is try to get the Jewish government involved in trying to shut him up. The courage and calm he demonstrated in the face of their anger and mistreatment remind us of the way Jesus responded to his enemies, and show us how the Holy Spirit within us can overcome our fears and emotions to allow us to be a faithful witness for Christ.