Stephen was the first official martyr of the early church in Acts. He was a steward who helped coordinate resources for poor believers who gathered and lived together with “all things common,” (Acts 4:32) as they had been told to do, according to Jesus in Luke 3:11. He was a man of wisdom who spoke eloquently and persuasively (Acts 6:10) in defense of the truth against the lies of both the secular system and the rabbinical order. For this reason, he had to be silenced. See, the truth doesn’t fear the lie, because light chases out darkness. The lie only has one option: to smother the truth, blocking out or even snuffing the light. In Acts 7, Stephen had been dragged before a corrupt body of jews who formed a kangaroo court, lying about his claims and aims. They alleged he was teaching heresy and contradicting word of Moses, which couldn’t have been farther from the truth. As a response, Stephen, filled with the Spirit, stood and delivered a historical survey of exactly what made Israel fall out of favor over and over again. He pointed fingers. He named names. And the names that kept coming up were those wicked jews in power, just like the ones who’d arrested him on false charges. He wrapped up with, “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, and you have now become betrayers and murderers of Him; you who received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” Finally, he looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:52-53,55-56) At that moment, the jews realized what came next. Stephen made it clear that God was done with them. Jesus stood in the throne room, a crowned prince ready to pass judgment. They were horrified, realizing their power was to be taken, their authority removed. They followed their only remaining recourse: with loud voices, covered their ears and rushed at him with one mind. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him. (Acts 7:57-58) They couldn’t counter. They couldn’t argue. They couldn’t defeat the truth. All these weak, pathetic losers could do was to silence him, once and for all. Using their final remaining authority, they killed Stephen. Today they do the same. Whether it’s the Holohoax, “Climate Change,” Sandy Hook, Chauvin, BLM, George Floyd, Rittenhouse, or Covid - if you don’t abide by their lies, you’re silenced, and if they could, they would kill you to shut your mouth. Stay strong.