The Good In The Bad

“They all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.” Acts 7:58

Why do bad things happen to good people? The question seems solid at first but soon leads to the debate about what constitutes “good.” Perhaps a question we think more but ask less is, “Why do bad things happen to God’s people?” Can’t a Deity with all knowledge and all power protect His own? And, since He can, why wouldn’t He? I don’t dare claim to have the complete answer, but perhaps a story will help us start to understand.

“Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people”(Acts 6:8). However, some Jews weren’t happy that Jesus was being acclaimed, and they “began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke”(Acts 6:10). Unable to win the war of words, they resorted to a ruse and framed Stephen with blasphemy.

Standing before the court with a face “like that of an angel”(Acts 6:15), Stephen delivered a brilliant sermon as his defense. Beginning with Abraham, he traced God’s presence and purpose through Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon, reminding his audience of God’s desire for relationship and of their ancestors’ repeated rebellion. His history lesson was followed by a harsh indictment, “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers…They killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him”(Acts 7:51-53). As the men gnashed their teeth in fury, Stephen looked to heaven and saw God’s glory. “Look,” he exclaimed. “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God”(Acts 7:56). With ears covered and mouths yelling to drown out Stephen’s words, they grabbed him, dragged him, and stoned him. As the rocks rained down, Stephen cries echoed the grace of his Lord—“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Do not hold this sin against them”(Acts 8:59-60). And then he died.

Why? Why such a brutal end to one who had been so bold? Why such violence against a man described as “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”? And the story seems to only get worse. “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria”(Acts 8:1).

Yes, those places sound familiar. Jesus Himself had spoken of them first. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”(Acts 1:8). His followers had “filled Jerusalem with their teaching”(Acts 5:28), but why leave when life was good? God wanted them to go and tell, but since they wouldn’t make the move unless they were made to, He allowed life to get so bad that they packed their bags. And He started the spread with Stephen.

“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went”(Acts 8:4). As a result of Stephen’s death, the gospel was taken to places that would never have heard. Philip shared in Samaria(Acts 8:5). Others “who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch…telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed”(Acts 11:19-21).

God’s purpose for Stephen started in life and continued in death. Stones didn’t stop what God was doing but instead became a way of spreading His grace and good news. Tough times, troubles, and trials might take us down or take us out, but they can never take us away from Him. At the end of the day, Stephen was with his Lord in heaven, and God was with His people on earth—working out His plan and His purpose even through their pain.

On this side of forever, we rarely know the reasons for the rocks, but we can trust that God is up to something big and good—even in the bad. As our “whys” are absorbed into who God is and what He is doing, Jesus becomes the only answer we need.