“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:”
Acts 18.9
The Apostle Paul knew first hand the impact of an unwanted message. He held the garments of those who stoned Stephen, Christianity’s first martyr. Stephen enraged the Jewish faithful by his blunt insistence that they had crucified their long awaited Messiah.
Truth that challenges what we believe, or want to believe, is often not a welcome intruder into our world. Stephen’s accusers listened with rapt attention to confirm what they already knew. What they wanted was exoneration: What they got was truth: How they reacted was rage.
Stephen delivered an assestment of their behavior so blunt, they either had to repent of their unbelief or defend themselves. Anger and rage are often the masks of choice. Being truthful is always right, but it’s not always safe.
Paul witnessed it first hand with Stephen; he experienced it many times after his conversion. He, like we, needed the assurance of the Holy Spirits presence; “Be not afraid…hold not they peace.”
Let’s will to speak the truth: But wisdom knows, truth is not always what we’re willing to hear. Never the less, press on.
“For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”
Acts 18.10
