In one short week many biblical prophecies were fulfilled, foreseen by God and prophesied long before. However, the men who delivered Christ to be crucified were fully responsible for what they did in their wickedness. When they put the Messiah on that shameful cross, this involved terrible sufferings for Him, and not only physically. Yet, no complaint came from His mouth; instead, He prayed for His enemies! How striking to hear Him say, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Fifty days later, on the basis of this short prayer—which is the Lord’s first saying on the cross—Peter proclaimed that they had put to death the Prince of life, after which he said that they had done this in ignorance (Acts 3:15, 17). Peter’s message caused about three thousand Jewish people to repent that day because the Lord Jesus had started a new work—from heaven! However, just as the Jewish leaders had rejected Christ’s ministry on earth—“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (Jn. 1:11)—so they rejected the apostles’ testimony about Christ’s resurrection and exaltation at God’s right hand.

When the deacon Stephen testified of these things, he became the first martyr. As he was being stoned to death, he prayed for these wicked men, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60), and then “he fell asleep” in Jesus. Stephen understood that he was living in a day of grace, and he followed his Master’s example. In all probability, Stephen’s prayer led to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus—the fierce persecutor of the early Christians—who was present at Stephen’s execution. In this day of grace, may we show in word and deed that we belong to the Lord Jesus.