We continue in the book of Acts or our Summer Reading Challenge of 2022. Today’s reflections from Acts chapter 7, address the arrest, preaching, suffering and death of Stephen.
- Acts 7 essentially has 2 main movements: (1) Stephen’s Speech to the Jewish Council (7:1-53); and (2) Stephen’s martyrdom (7:54-60).
- Today’s episode will walk through the ending of Acts 6 and survey all of Acts 7 looking at the service and suffering of Stephen.
Part 1: Stephen – Servant and Sufferer
- In order to get the full the picture of the life of Stephen, we must begin at the end of Chapter 6.
- Stephen was full of grace and power and doing great wonders and signs among the people (6:8). Interestingly, Stephen was the first person outside of the Apostles to perform “wonders and signs.”
- Some of the leaders of the Greek-speaking synagogues rose up and opposed him and disputed with him.
- I love how the ESV translates this next phrase — Yet no one “could withstand the wisdom & the Spirit with which he was speaking”
- Notice, it was not that they could not withstand “his wisdom” or that Stephen was speaking out of his own wisdom, but that he was speaking out of the Wisdom and the Spirit which he had received — even the grammar of this text emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit within His people.
- So what option do these opposers have since they could not withstand the wisdom and Spirit? Spread lies and drum up false witnesses.
- This, and the accusations, echo the accusations and trial of against Jesus (see Mark 14 and Matthew 26)
- It is interesting because they complained he was speaking against the law of Moses, and yet within the 10 Commandments we have the command “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20).
- I love how the ESV translates this next phrase — Yet no one “could withstand the wisdom & the Spirit with which he was speaking”
- So here we are, the elders and the scribes are stirred up against him, Stephen is arrested, the witnesses against him have spoken falsely, and as the whole council gazed at him, they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. There was a visible manifestation of glory of God on his very face (see note in the ESV Study Bible).
- How can we know this to be true? Saul, who would lead the persecution against the church, who would later become Paul, was among those in this council. And he likely was the one to give Luke this inside information.
- So, what happens next?
Part 2: Stephen’s Response
- We see in Stephen’s speech, his response to the high priest, something of an overview of the History of Redemption throughout the Old Testament.
- Far from denigrating the Law, Stephen points them to it and demonstrates God’s faithfulness to bring the people of Israel a Savior. He shows them the faith and trials of the people of God throughout their shared history, highlighting in contrast his accusers’ behavior.
- Stephen will walk through sections on (1) Abraham, (2) Joseph, (3) Moses and (4) David.
- Especially in the latter half of this Old Testament history lesson, Stephen hones in on how the people had rejected the Lord and rebelled against Him, and railed against His prophets.
- In verses 51-53 Stephen — in line with the prophets of the Old Testament — calls them to the carpet and calls them stiff-necked people with uncircumcised heart and ears, always resisting the Holy Spirit! They were unresponsive to the Lord
- Stephen points out how these religious rulers followed in the footsteps of their ancestors persecuting and killing the ones who proclaimed the coming of Christ – the Righteous One. And these men, they did not kill a mere prophet – it is was the Holy One – the Son of God! It was HE that they betrayed and murdered!
- Where they were accusing Stephen of rejecting the law — it was they who rejected the Messiah himself — they did not keep the law they had received.
- So, how did they respond?
Part 3: Stephen’s Martyrdom
- When they heard these things they were enraged – we might say blew a gasket.
- Verses 54-60 contrast two very different pictures, and these verses have been precious to me from the time I first read them as a young Christian.
- You have on the one side, the raging chaos of the Council, grinding their teeth in fury.
- And on the other side, you have Stephen gazing into heaven and seeing the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Stephen reports to his persecutors what he sees…
- And they even further lose their minds — they cover their ears and rushed Stephen.
- What would become of this man, filled with faith, the Holy Spirit, grace, power and wisdom? Did God rescue him from the hands of his attackers? No.
- Stephen would be dragged out of the city and beat to death with stones at the hands of the angry mob.
- During his brutal execution, Stephen had two prayers upon his lips – both echoing the words of Jesus from the cross.
- First he prays, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” — he had just seen the Lord exalted at the right hand of God, and he knew that he was going to Him now.
- Second, he prays that the Lord not hold this sin against his murderers (see Luke 23:34, 46).
- And then Stephen “fell asleep.” This is used throughout the New Testament to describe the death of a Christian — and it is important because it reflects the hope and assurance that they will one day “wake up” in the resurrection.
- So, here in Acts 7 we have the death of the first recorded martyr of the church. As we will see in our next episode and in the weeks to come, Stephen’s death had a tremendous impact on the man named Saul who would become known as Paul.
- And we will see that the scattering of the church in Acts 8 leads to the growth of the church in the chapters to come!
Conclusion & Application:
- My friend, this is a sobering chapter in the book of Acts. In my faith, I have been incredibly challenged and encouraged by the stories of those who were willing to die for their faith. If you have not yet taken the opportunity to learn more about martyrs and the persecuted church, I would like to recommend a few resources:
- First, the book “Foxe: Voice of the Martyrs: AD33 – Today” (https://amzn.to/3Nq7eJu)
- Second, the book “Jesus Freaks: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks” (https://amzn.to/3OKkVUz)
- Both of these books walk through accounts of men and women – and yes, some children – who were persecuted and mostly killed for their faith. The “Jesus Freaks” book is slightly easier to read.
- Third, the ministry of Voice of the Martyrs (https://www.persecution.com) – you will find prayer guides, interviews, books, videos, and all kinds helpful resources.
- Find the links in the description below.
- So, what application do we have from this text?
- The church will grow when her Spirit-filled leaders serve selflessly with a willingness to endure suffering for the cause of Christ in the midst of a generation that cannot withstand wisdom & reason — the response to the church’s proclamation of Christ will be plugged ears and unhinged rage as they cling to their unfounded and dismantled beliefs.
- Though the death of these servants will seem deserved in the eyes of the blinded guilty hoard, and their pleading falls upon their stoney hearts — to Christ, it will be precious in His eyes. And these kernels of wheat, as they fall into the blood drenched earth will be, by the grace of their Lord, and to the horror of their murderers, the cause of a great harvest of souls unto the Lord!
- If we would follow Jesus and walk in the steps of the Apostles, we must be ready to serve and willing to suffer. It makes no sense the world around us – and yet this is what God often uses to open the eyes of the hardest of hearts.
- My friend, I know it will seem strange — but do you have a walk with the Lord that you are willing to suffer for Him – suffer the loss of all things – even suffer death? Oh that you would know the freedom and joy of this kind of relationship with the Savior!
- Ask Him – and He will draw you!
“Foxe: Voice of the Martyrs: AD33 – Today” (https://amzn.to/3Nq7eJu)
“Jesus Freaks: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks” (https://amzn.to/3OKkVUz)
Voice of the Martyrs (https://www.persecution.com)
“ESV Study Bible” (https://amzn.to/3azWAlJ)
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