Have you ever been forgiven? I mean for something that was really bad. Forgiven for a deed or for a word that really hurt someone to the point they will probably feel the pain, physically or emotionally, forever. Have you ever experienced the feeling of knowing that person has really forgiven you?

The next question would be, have you ever forgiven? I am not talking about just brushing something aside as if it never happened. I am talking about forgiving someone when it was exactly the opposite of what you wanted to do. Have you told someone I am sorry that you did that and I want you to know that I really forgive you?

I am not sure there is a more powerful experience in the world than being forgiven unless it is to forgive someone. I don’t think it is by accident the last mental picture we have of Jesus Christ, prior to His death, is of Him forgiving those who were taking His life. I really have to believe it is the perfect image that should be branded upon our minds. This is how we should see Christ and this is how we should see ourselves, as forgivers.

There is a crowd that has gathered. They have been attracted by the trial that is taking place. It seems they have brought a deacon from The Apostolic Church to trial for blasphemy. As those gathered there that day listen, a frenzied atmosphere sweeps through the courthouse. Different ones begin to talk among themselves and it isn’t long until the whispers become loud voices and the loud voices become shouts of rage! The accused is taken forcibly from the witness stand and an enraged mob drags him out of the city and to kill him with stones!

Stephan was the first martyr for the Gospel. While they are stoning him he isn’t asking for deliverance from this trial. We don’t hear of him praying for vengeance against those that have treated him unjustly. What we hear is a man talking to his Savior asking that these people, his killers, be forgiven. Obviously he has already forgiven them and wants to make sure that God also forgives them. Stephen goes as far as to say, “Don’t even charge them with this sin.” A very similar statement to the one Jesus made from the cross.

As we read through the book of Acts we find another remarkable incident taking place. Actually the book is full of remarkable incidents, but there is a particular one I would like to bring to our attention. From the stoning of Stephan forward persecution rains down upon the Church. Saul leads the charge of the Pharisees against the followers of Jesus. Worship services are disrupted. Bible Studies come to an abrupt end. Believers in Jerusalem and the surrounding area are unsafe as they endeavor to make converts. Harassment, beatings, imprisonment and even death has become the norm for them.

I have often said we have a tendency to give Bible characters superhero status. In reality they were just people. They were real people with real feelings. Someone once asked me this question, “Have you ever thought of who was the individual who had to tell Sister Stephen her husband had been killed for preaching the Gospel? Have you ever wondered who got to explained to Sister James and all the James children their husband and father had been beheaded and Peter had been delivered?” These were real people dealing with real problems.

The Bible tells us the persecution became so great these people were being thrown in prison. Some of them were being beaten, some were losing their lives. It was not a good time to be a follower of Jesus. It became so intense people began to leave their homes and move to far away cities. They were ending up in places like Cyprus, Phenice and Antioch. They had to uproot their families, leave their homes. They had to close down their places of business, leave their jobs. They walked away from everything they knew, not because they wanted to but because they feared for their lives. They were forced to move to strange places with strange people.

When they settled in these places they began to build churches. They preached Jesus everywhere they went. The believers refused to feel sorry for their selves. Nor would they become living martyrs in their own minds. They spread the Gospel abroad to the point it caught the attention of the Apostles in Jerusalem. They were made aware of the revival which was spreading throughout the coastal region. They decided there was a need to investigate what was happening and make sure there was strong leadership put into place.

Barnabas is the man who is chosen to Pastor the Church of Antioch. Upon his arrival he is excited to see what a spiritual church this is. He encourages them that with a purposed heart they would serve the Lord. It doesn’t seem like he is with them very long until he makes a surprising decision. The Church in Antioch is growing quickly and needs additional leadership. Barnabas takes a quick trip to Tarsus and returns with a new Assistant Pastor named Saul.

Now lets put this all into one little ball of putty and take a look at what is happening. We have people who have been beaten for preaching Jesus. We have people who been dragged by the hair of the heads to jail for preaching Jesus. We have people who have been up rooted from their homes, families, and all that are familiar to them. They have been forced to move to strange places and seek a new lifestyle because they preached Jesus. If some of these things didn’t happen to them personally, most of them knew of someone it did happen to. Some of them obviously had family members or friends that had even died for preaching Jesus. Now the man who is standing in their pulpit preaching the “Love of Jesus” to them is the man who is chiefly responsible for all of their problems. He is teaching them about loving Jesus!

Despite all that has happened. In spite of all they had experienced as believers. Regardless of discomfort had come their way. Notwithstanding the hard, bitter feelings they should rightfully feel. Even though human nature says it isn’t possible. They must have forgiven Saul! The Bible tells us in Acts 11:26 that when Barnabas found Saul he brought him to Antioch. He taught the people and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. A whole year is summarized in one scripture and yet so much is revealed in those few words. If we take a moment we find so much to learn right here.

The world saw the true Church in action. The Believer’s testimony became powerful because of his actions. Everybody knew who Saul was. They knew his record. They knew his past. They had heard of what he had done to those who called themselves followers of Jesus. They had also heard of the teachings of Jesus. They had heard these people speak of their allegiance to those teachings. However, when they saw the Church of Antioch put those teachings into practice in real life, in a situation that was so close to where they lived, they were impacted. The city of Antioch could only express it one way and that was, “These people are truly followers of Christ.” They were first called Christians in Antioch!

What a tremendous power there is in forgiveness! Not only does it affect the life of the forgiven by releasing them from the burden of a mistake. Not only does it have emotional impact on the forgiver by freeing them from the wrong and from the person who committed the wrong against them. It also has a tremendous influence on those who observe from the sidelines. Those people who were not directly involved. Seeing a person being able to forgive another person who has injured them will touch lives.

I must ask this question, and I ask it of myself as well as those who are reading this article. How great of an impact could we have on our world if we practiced forgiveness? I am talking about true forgiveness! It is a small wonder that the disciples of Jesus were able to reach their known world in such a short amount of time. They were true Christians. They impacted their world! They found the “Power of Forgiveness!”

Just a thought I thought I would share. God Bless!