the first martyr acts 7:1-8:4 message 12 in our 12-part series on the acts of the apostles. sunday,...

The First MartyrActs 7:1-8:4

Message 12 in our 12-part series on theActs of the Apostles.

Sunday, December 1, 2013Speaker: Doug Virgint

Our outlineThe contextThe Sanhedrin’s accusationsStephen’s defenseStephen’s attackThe executionThe resultsThe applications

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The contextThe church had existed for 4 or 5 years

In disobedience to Christ’s last instructions, the church was still stuck in Jerusalem

Was the church going to be just another Jewish sect?

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The contextWas the Church going to become

stagnated – reaching out to only:one people? one nation?one small strip of land?be subject to a ceremonial law?worship a God who is present in only

one temple?

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The contextBut God’s eternal purpose was to reach

out to all nations and all peoples:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

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The context

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

“And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”(Genesis 12:3)

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The context“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.(Psalm 22:27)

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel;I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

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The context“the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,…these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer;their burnt offerings and their sacrificeswill be accepted on my altar;for my house shall be called a house of prayerfor all peoples.” (Isaiah 56: 3-7)

“ And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

(Isaiah 60:3)

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The context“O LORD … to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say … Can man make for himself gods? Such are not gods!” (Jeremiah 16: 19-20)

“ And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst.”(Zachariah 2:11)

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The contextSo now God acts according to his sovereign will to:

break the ties between Judaism and Christianity

cause a persecution that will drive the Christians from Jerusalem

raise up a strong leader who understands well our Jewish roots but who also is equipped to communicate the gospel to the Roman, Greek and pagan societies and peoples.

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The contextAnd God has prepared his servant Stephen for this task:

he was a “Hellenistic” Jew

he was a member of the synagogue of the “Freedmen”

he knew the Old Testament thoroughly

he understood Christ’s message well

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Inscription from Synagogue of the Freedmen:

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Inscription from Synagogue of the Freedmen:

“Theodotus son of Vettenus, priest and synagogue leader, son of a synagogue leader, grandson of a synagogue leader, rebuilt this synagogue for the reading of the Law and the teaching of the commandments, and the hostelry, rooms and baths, for the lodging of those who have need from abroad. It was established by his forefathers, the elders and Simonides.

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The accusationsspeaking blasphemous words against Moses

speaking blasphemous words against God

speaking against the temple

speaking against the law

stating that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the temple and change Mosaic customs

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The accusationsNotice how similar these are to the accusations

against Jesus at his “trial”:

speaking blasphemous words against God

“Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy” (Matt 26:65)

speaking against the temple

“This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.” (Matt 26:61)

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The defense a) blaspheming the templeGod called Abraham in Mesopotamia

before there was a temple, some 1000 miles from Jerusalem

Joseph was in Egypt before the temple was built, some 500 miles from Jerusalem – and God multiplied his people there

Moses was born in Egypt and met God at Sinai, not at a temple

the burning bush was holy ground.

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The defense a) blaspheming the temple

Stephen quotes Amos 5 to prove that Israel was idolatrous even when they had the tabernacle in the desert, as well as when they had the temple.

He also refers to Solomon, who prayed at the dedication of the temple, and said that God was too immense to be limited to a building made by men.

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He further quotes Isaiah:

“Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

““Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?Did not my hand make all these things?”” (Acts 7:48-50)

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His points :God’s people worshipped God in many countries and during many periods when there was no templeGod ordained the tabernacle – he tolerated David and Solomon’s desire to build a temple.The Jews had been idolaters even while the tabernacle and temple existed.God cannot be limited to any building made by men.

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The defense b) blaspheming God

Stephen starts off by calling his accusers “brothers” and “fathers” – showing much respect and demonstrating solidarity with them.

He refers to God as the “God of glory”.He calls Abraham “our father” and shows

God’s sovereignty in redemptive history.He shows Abraham as the father of faith,

even though he never owned any land in Palestine (except a funeral plot!)

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The defense b) blaspheming God

He affirms the great covenant work of God through Abraham and the patriarchs

He thus pleads not guilty to this charge !

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The defense c) blaspheming Moses (law)

Stephen uses respectful language concerning Moses (beautiful in God’s sight”, “mighty in words and deeds”)

He shows that he knows and understands Moses. place in Jewish history and redemption.

He affirms that Moses received the law of God through the mediation of angels

God is therefore the author of the law – Stephen has pleaded not guilty !

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The attackStephen has proven that Israel systematically

rejected every deliverer God sent them

Joseph was rejected by his brothers, the patriarchs, but later accomplished God’s plans by delivering them.

Israel rejected Moses, but he also eventually delivered God’s people Israel.

Stephen generalizes and says. “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute”.

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The attackStephen also shows that the Jews

systematically disobeyed the law of God starting on the very day it was given to them at the mountain.

Their idolatry continued during the 40 years of tabernacle worship in the desert.

Their nation had received the law as delivered by angels, but had not kept it.

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The attackStephen shows how Moses had announced

the coming of Messiah – Jesus.

The Jews had rejected Jesus just as they had rejected Joseph and Moses, and even killed him, just as they had killed the prophets.

Now they are going to continue in their wicked sin by killing God’s messenger, Stephen.

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The executionThe members of the Sanhedrin were “cut to

the quick” (in Greek diaprio – sawn in half)

“Stephen’s words in verses 51-53 ripped apart the veneer of their false spirituality and exposed them for the blasphemous hypocrites they were.” (John MacArthur)

Like the sinners during the Great Tribulation, they gnash their teeth but refuse to repent.

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The executionIn contrast, Stephen is “full of the Holy

Spirit”. He is calm, in control of himself.

This is the result of his way of life, his habitual submission to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Stephen is granted a vision of heaven and our Lord standing at God’s right – the position of power and glory.

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The executionThis execution is highly illegal.Only the Roman authorities could impose capital

punishment.Stoning was supposed to be preceded by being

pushed off a 10 foot cliff to ensure instant death.Jewish law imposed a 24 hour waiting period, to

allow “sober second thought”, between sentencing and carrying out the penalty.

Many similarities with our Lord’s execution. Jesus’ followers are treated just as he was treated.

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The executionJoseph had interceded for his brothers

Moses had interceded for his people

Jesus had interceded for those who executed him

And in the same way, Stephen intercedes for those who mistreated and stoned him.

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The resultsA great persecution breaks out, and the

Christians are forced to disperse throughout Judea and Samaria – accomplishing God’s plan to evangelize those areas.

Saul is present at the execution and consents to it. Stephen’s message must have tormented him for months. Stephen’s demeanor must have touched him as well. ( perhaps one of those pricks he was kicking against!)

Persecution fortifies and energizes the Church

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The applicationsGod sometimes cuts off the promising

ministry of talented young people in his service.

He knows what he is is doing.

Often we don’t understand

We simply have to trust

Stephen, James the brother of John

Jim Elliott39

The applicationsWhat price are we willing to pay for our

Christian service ?

We complain and fear when we are scoffed at.

Throughout the world Christians are paying with their lives.

Stephen was willing to pay the ultimate price.

Mom and dad – are we preparing our children to pay the price?

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The applicationsWhen churches become stagnant, God

often acts to make things move. We would often be better off to plan for expansion or a hive-off rather than allow stagnation.

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The applicationsWhen he wants to get things done, God

uses a man or a women. Are we ready and willing as a church to discern those men and women God is calling out for his service, to get behind them and to support them in every possible way?

Often that type of person can disrupt us – bother us. In French we say, “il nous dérange!”

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The applicationsFor a long time, Paul resisted the voice of

the Lord in his heart.

He paid the price for the rest of his life.

If the Lord is speaking to you, listen and obey now. Don’t force the Lord to blind you on a Damascus road !

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The applicationsGod has a plan to evangelize the world. We

need to be part of that plan. Our church needs to be part of that plan.

God is going to succeed in implementing his plan.

Christians must not be pessimistic.God is sovereign in his timing and his

decisions about where to work during different eras of church history !

The Church is triumphant !44

Acts 7:1 – 8:4

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the first martyr acts 7:1-8:4 message 12 in our 12-part series on the acts of the apostles. sunday,...

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