May 9, 2008...1:30 pm
Friday, May 9th - Acts 7
Today, we have our one and only account of Deacon Stephen’s sermon before the religious leaders in Jerusalem. Let’s break it down:
Section 1: Verses 2-50 give a summary version of the unfolding covenant between God and His chosen people. Beginning with Abraham, and working through the lives of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David and Solomon, Stephen recounts a series of stories that would have been incredibly well-known to his audience.
Section 2: Stephen suddenly gets very confrontational beginning in verse 51. In three short verses, he goes from being an ethnic insider with a shared history, to being hated, and eventually executed. What did he say that was so problematic for them?
These inflammatory accusations: “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts … You always resist the Holy Spirit … your fathers were prophet killers … you murdered Jesus … you’re lawbreakers.’ (not very seeker sensitive, eh?). But, even more than those character attacks, Stephen proclaims that the recently killed Jesus is, in fact, “the coming Righteous One,” that is, the Jewish Messiah. And, in verse 56, he claims he actually sees the risen Jesus in heaven, at the right hand of God. This they couldn’t handle. They gnashed, they covered their ears, they yelled, they attacked, they dragged, and they finally executed Jesus by stoning.
CHALLENGES
1. Stephen demonstrates that our understanding of the gospel is made possible by a deep understanding of God’s interaction with His people through time. How’s your Old Testament understanding?
2. Face of an angel, words sharp as a sword. If Stephen is the measure of boldness … how do you measure up? (Take a moment to praise God for the bold ones around the world who are dying like Stephen for the gospel even today).
3. Verse 55 says Stephen was “full of the Holy Spirit.” This is the obvious key, yes? he was not one of the 11 apostles, but still had an extraordinarily powerful relationship with God. This kind of depth of encounter is possible for us! Do we want it? Will we do what we ought to receive it?
Enter Saul in verse 58 … don’t worry, more about him in the coming chapters! Tomorrow, we bust out of Jerusalem! See you then…
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Bill Hartley
3 Comments
May 9, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Verse 60: Stephen fell on his knees and cried out, “LORD, do not hold this sin against them.”
My thoughts/comments are that only the Holy Spirit is capable of this kind of reaction/love! Without the Holy Spirit, I can imagine Stephen being furious similar to how the Sanhedrin behaved in verse 54!
May 9, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Great insight, Ron! Even though I side with Stephen in this story, I don’t find myself responding to the circumstances the way he does. That thing inside us that makes us want to fight back–the Holy Spirit wants to dig that thing out of us.
May 10, 2008 at 1:43 am
I find Stephen’s story SO inspiring!
You’ll have to forgive me for being a “Trekkie”, but I’m reminded of a quote from Worf in one the feature films (Star Trek: First Contact):
“Perhaps today is a good day to die!”
Not to diminish the sacrifice or the love in Stephen’s response…but I can’t help but see a warrior spirit as well. He must have known what was coming and to charge forward with such vigilance and zeal is AWESOME to see!
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