As soon as the instigator was thrown outside, I muttered to myself, “kill him!" I was not an immediate part of the inner circle that had suddenly formed in front of me. Yet, I had a clear enough view of the event unfolding because of my slightly elevated position. In front of my feet lay a pile of cloaks which the witnesses had asked me to watch over as they picked up large stones to throw at the man standing in the center.

However, my attention was not on the cloaks, nor the stones. My eyes were focused on the victim like a hunter looking through his scope ready to pull the trigger. Though I had no stone in my hand, I was in complete agreement with the stone throwers.

Just a few minutes ago this now silent preacher had uttered blasphemous words before the Sanhedrin. He declared that a recent criminal who died on a cross not far from where they were currently standing was the Messiah, the "Righteous One," who was promised by the prophets. He even claimed to have seen the “Son of Man” standing at the Father’s right hand.

"Outrageous!” I thought to myself. “This man was clearly disillusioned and deceived. He even accused the council of not keeping the Mosaic Law. How dare this self-righteous sinner accuse me, a Pharisee of all people, of not being blameless before the law." Suddenly my mind quickly returned to the present scene unfolding in front of me. By now the man’s face was battered almost beyond recognition as stones were being launched at his head like nuclear missiles.

Yet that was not what had got my attention. It was the words I heard, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Why does this man insist on calling Jesus 'Lord'? But what stunned me most, were the final words from Stephen’s mouth. As he dropped to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Saul wondered to himself, “How is it possible for Stephen to die in this manner?”

A feared enemy of the church

This short story is based on Acts 7:54-60, where we are introduced to Saul (who later became Paul) for the first time in the New Testament. Even though he actually says nothing while Stephen is being murdered, his silence and physical presence are most instructive to us. While Jesus, the Son of Man, is standing to applaud Stephen for his faith, Saul is standing to show his approval of his condemnation.

Furthermore, in case we assumed that Saul was merely a passive bystander at the scene of a crime, Luke informs us that he was an active participant in the persecution of Christians from that day forward (Acts 8:1). In fact, he led the charge from the front –– entering houses and dragging off men and women who professed to be followers of “the Way” to prison (Acts 8:3). Saul’s persecution of Christians earned him the reputation as one of the most feared enemies of the Christian faith in the early church (Acts 9:13-14).

The story and song of Paul

We’ll learn more about Saul in future blogs, but for now it is worth mentioning that he was a Jew who came to believe in Jesus. So, he was a Jew for Jesus, or a “Messianic Jew.” The question I want to answer and explore in this blog is, “How did Saul become a follower of Jesus? Or put another way, “How did this man, who once sought to destroy the church of God, become its biggest promoter?”

The answer to the question is God’s powerful sovereign, saving, and sanctifying grace. If we take grace out of the picture, we undermine the very reason for Paul’s conversion, apostleship and accomplishments. In his vocabulary salvation was synonymous with God’s amazing grace. He owed his life to this gift and power of God. It was the grace of God that pursued and rescued Paul. This was his story; this was his song (1 Cor. 15:10).

The story and song of John Newton

Some people may argue that Paul’s conversion and calling were unique and therefore he was unique. While we cannot deny that God had a special purpose for his apostle, we must not forget that his life serves as an example to all people today that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace (1 Tim. 1:16). Many modern men and women, who have done terrible things, still testify to the ongoing saving and transforming grace of God.

Consider the example of John Newton. He is perhaps best known as the author of the most famous hymn in the English language, “Amazing Grace.” Like Paul, he had a dark past of which he was ashamed. In his early years, he was the captain of a ship that carried slaves across the Atlantic Ocean from the west coast of Africa to the Americas. However, he went from being a slave owner to becoming serving God as a pastor for about 40 years. This self-confessed ‘blasphemer’ and ‘wretch’ encountered the grace of God. This too was his story; this was his song.

Your story and song

Perhaps God directed you to read this blog today because you have lost hope for your own life or the lives of your family members and friends. Maybe you wonder if you or they are beyond the reach of God’s grace because of ongoing disappointment, disobedience or failure. Whatever, the exact reason, let us reason together: If God could take Paul, a former murderer and persecutor of the church; and John Newton, a former slave owner, and save them, then how much more can he save sinners today. Your story and the story of those you love is not over because God’s grace is still powerful today. His grace is always sufficient, irrespective of your weakness, need, or situation! (2 Cor. 12:9)

If God could take Paul, a former murderer and persecutor of the church; and John Newton, a former slave owner, and save them, then how much more can he save sinners today.

In the next blog we will dive deeper into the subject of grace and specifically consider why good works cannot earn God’s favor and righteousness.