“Stephen’s boldness bore more fruit after he was gone than when he was living.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 18, 2026
Now, Lord … enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Acts 4:29, NIV
Lately, I’ve been praying that God would make me bolder. And I’ve been reading a lot about the apostle Paul—perhaps the boldest man in history. As I read about the unusual way he became a believer in Christ, I was left with a question: Who taught Paul (formerly Saul) the gospel?
I’ve heard people say it was Ananias (not the one who sinned and fell dead in Acts 5). And surely Ananias was a brave, obedient man. But what he tells Saul isn’t the gospel. He called Saul “Brother” and said Jesus had sent him to give Saul sight and the Holy Spirit.
That’s a lot, but that’s it. The message Ananias brought was from Jesus, but it wasn’t the gospel. So, how was Saul able to start preaching it? Could someone else have already told him?
I think someone did—a man so full of the Holy Spirit that he almost glowed like Moses coming out of God’s tent (Exodus 34:29–30; Acts 6:15). When the people watched him that day, they couldn’t take their eyes off him. And as they listened, they couldn’t take their ears off him either.
It was Stephen, one of the first believers appointed to serve the church, caring for widows. He told people about Jesus and performed great wonders—doing what Jesus had called believers to do and was arrested for it.
Boldly, Stephen spoke in his own defense (see Acts 7), and those listening were hanging on every word. He wove together a gospel message, his own defense, and Israel’s entire history. Beginning with Abraham, he reminded them who they were and what they believed. Through the Spirit’s power, he connected with them deeply. Clearly, they must have thought, “He’s one of us.”
But his message turned. Their forefathers had stoned the prophets God sent, and now they’d killed God’s Son. They covered their ears, refusing to listen, and then, all together, they rushed at Stephen.
As the stones hit and Stephen looked to heaven, Saul stood in the back, approving of his murder (Acts 22:20). Only later, maybe, did Saul remember Stephen’s last words: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
After that day, a great persecution arose, and Saul became obsessed (Acts 26:11). He lost his mind, dragging followers of Jesus to prison and punishment, even death.
But he wasn’t just running after people. He was running from someone—Jesus, who’d been chasing him. Saul had been “kicking against the goads,” fighting Jesus hard until he was knocked to the ground and blinded.
At a house in Damascus, Paul sat for three days without eating or drinking. What was he doing during that time?
The Bible doesn’t say. But Saul came to faith there, before Ananias arrived.
He’d heard Stephen’s message loud and clear. He didn’t accept it that day. But after he encountered Jesus, I think he remembered Stephen’s words and repented. Through Saul (who became the Apostle Paul), Stephen’s boldness bore more fruit after he was gone than when he was living.
I want this to be said of me too. I want to be that bold and say things people will remember, lead them to Jesus or into a deeper walk with Him. For now, I’m telling whoever God puts in front of me and hoping he’ll send me more. Because you never know when someone who’s heard you might just change the world.
Prayer
God, please make me bold for you. Grow me in wisdom. Let your Spirit be stirred in me so that I can speak your truth to as many as possible as He leads me. Let me not shrink back, knowing that one day, someone could come to You because I wasn’t afraid to speak.
Application
Be bold. Early Christians were willing to risk for the gospel. We don’t have a different calling. If you’ve prayed and noticed the Holy Spirit leading you to risk a conversation for Him, trust Him to fill you with what you need. Then go and do it.
Related Reading
Acts 4:31, Acts 7, Acts 9:1-22
Worship Resource
Brandon Lake: Courage
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