Acts 06_08-17 Greatest Man Who Never Lived

Read Acts 6:8-17 –A couple of years ago, my bro, Jim, went to Germany to minister in a refugee camp. An Iranian pastor was there and confirmed Jesus is at work in Iran. But publicly claiming Christ can mean death. As a former Muslim, he’s at risk every time he re-enters Iran. A Xn uncle in the army, a secret believer, checks watch lists for him. He assumes he’ll be found out one day and it will cost his life. So how’s your commitment to Christ today?

Stephen’s was rock solid. He lived what Paul wrote in Phil 1:21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” That’s commitment. And Stephen soon knew both sides of that equation. He’s the greatest man who never lived! At least not for long. But he was a great man. Committed to Jesus.

This passage marks a transition in Acts. Peter dominates the first half of the book, but another looms on the horizon – Paul, who will dominate the 2nd.

Stephen bridges the gap between them. Peter ministered mostly to Jews; Paul to Gentiles. Stephen’s brief ministry was mainly to Jews from a Gentile world, and his martyrdom catapults the church out of Jerusalem and into the rest of the world. His death left a lasting impression on Paul as he held the coats of the executioners. His life was short, but meaningful. His greatness is beyond doubt. In Acts 6:15, “his face shown like the face of an angel.” As he is about to die, he says in Acts 7:56: “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” That didn’t happen for just anyone. We measure greatness by human accomplishment, even in the church. God measures by extreme faithfulness under great pressure. His alone matters.

I. Stephen’s Deportment

Stephen’s greatness is summed up in the phrase 8) And Stephen, full of grace and power.” Grace without power -- meaningless. Power without grace is ruthless. To find both in one man is extraordinary. Stephen’s life parallels Jesus’ who was “full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14), and power, of course. Stephen was “full of grace and power” and truth as we will see. Stephen is humble and powerful simultaneously, both elements of true greatness.

Stephen was “doing great wonders and signs among the people.” These miracles were apostolic in nature, but not entirely limited to the apostles. Stephen is one of 3 men in the NT, other than apostles, who performed such miracles – the others being Philip (8:6-7) and Barnabas (15:2). No doubt others did, too, but they were rare enough that Paul could refer his ministry being accredited by “the signs of a true apostle” (II Cor 12:12). Even in these early days, miracles were rare enough to mainly attach to apostles. God affirmed Stephen’s powerful preaching with authenticating miracles.

Yet, Stephen started by tables! We must ask, are we above waiting tables? Are there tasks too low for us? We must know our gifting and operate accordingly as did the apostles when they appointed table-servers. Yet we must be humble enough to go the extra mile, take on the unwanted task, do the hard things. Stephen was such a man – because in addition to power, he was full of grace.

That’s a potent phrase. “Full of” means controlled by. A man full of anger is controlled by his temper. A man full of grace is controlled by grace -- giving someone something they don’t deserve, and can’t earn. Jesus was full of grace and where did it lead Him? To the cross where, tho innocent as a newborn, He willingly took our penalty. That’s grace. Living for others – whether they deserve it or not. Stephen followed Jesus in giving to others what they did not deserve and thus living out the gospel. Not too big to serve – too big NOT to serve! Just what Jesus meant when He said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Greatness isn’t shown by how little we serve; it is shown by how willingly we serve. That was Stephen.

A little boy got a toy lawn mower for Xmas. He began to use it in the house, mowing the carpet, pretend, naturally. One day, Dad invited him outside to help mow the lawn. Excitedly the boy dragged his mower out. He lasted about 2 minutes before he announced, “I’m going back inside and mow the carpet. It’s too hot out here.” Ever been there. Too hot out here to serve? Too much trouble? Too much time? No one to applaud. Let’s don’t get too big to serve. Serving – that’s how little people become big people in God’s eyes!

II. Stephen’s Detractors

“Full of grace and power.” Should be admired, right. As Stephen was by thousands who made him deacon – but then there were others. 9d) “Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.” So who are these guys, and what are these synagogues? Jewish worship centered in the temple in Jerusalem. Other town had synagogues. No sacrifices could be made there, but they sang, read Scripture and had lessons –like church. Often these were ethnic places, created by Jews raised in other countries, but now in Jerusalem. A separate meeting place to accommodate a native tongue other than Hebrew.

Luke has 4 in mind. Freedmen were descended from Jews taken prisoner by Pompey in 63 BC. In Rome, they had a colony along the Tiber River, but later some of their descendants were expelled from Rome, came to Jerusalem and founded a synagogue. Cyrene and Alexandria were major cities in North Africa; and Cilicia and Asia were Roman provinces in modern Turkey. Paul was from Tarsus in Cilicia and may have been part of that synagogue.

So, Stephen went to the synagogues in Jerusalem, presenting Jesus as Messiah. Opposition developed – but every objection was met by Stephen with Scripture. His opponents couldn’t win. So, they turned him into the authorities, complete with false witnesses – taking the gist of what Stephen was saying but twisting it. Sound familiar? It’s the life of Jesus all over again, isn’t it? And just what Jesus said would happen, did: Jn 15:20b: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” And they did.

And they will! Take a stand for Christ and not everyone will love you, even if you are filled with grace. Opposition is sure – some who think you’re crazy, intolerant, biased or worse. Al Mohler spoke on religious belief in America at an elite Ivy League school, under heavy security. As he began to speak, Mohler noticed a strange thing. Sitting on the front row was one of the world’s most famous authors – a Nobel prize winner -- holding his head in his hands in disapproval. Mohler says, “I’d seen people scowl as I spoke and even shake their heads in disagreement. But a Nobel laureate with his head in his hands in the front row? That was a first for me.” But it just spurred him on. He says, “Everything I stood for would have been compromised had I backtracked when I saw that man with his head in his hands.” Truth will always find enemies. If we’ve got no opposition, maybe we’ve got no witness.

III. Stephen’s Declaration

So what gave such offense? The miracles? No. But they hated the message -- hated hearing Jesus was the One. When they couldn’t out argue Stephen bc the fit between Jesus’ life and the OT was a perfect fit – they resorted to false witnesses who claimed Steve was undermining the 2 things most important to them – their religion and their pocketbook. 13) and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14) for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” They claimed Stephen was teaching Jesus said he’d destroy the temple – where the council made their living bilking the public. And they claimed Stephen taught Jesus came to destroy the law – undermining their religion.

So, did Jesus undermine the Law? No! But He hated the Pharisee’s traditions which they revered above the Law itself, but which actually negated the Law. In Mt 15: 3) He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4) For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5) But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6) he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.” Jesus’ point was, “You guys say you keep the Law, but you’ve defined it out of existence. You say you honor parents, but when it comes time to support them late in life, you say, ‘Sorry, I gave it all to God’, thus making God’s Word of no effect.” Mt 5 has a whole list of the ways their traditions negated the Law.

Jesus constantly broke traditions bc it was men’s attempt to define the Law in a way they could earn their salvation by keeping it. But He never broke or destroyed or changed God’s Law. He completed it! Mt 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18) For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” The Law we could not keep, Jesus did keep so through His death on our behalf we could be justified by faith in Him. That was not a message Stephen’s enemies wanted to hear, so they falsely accused him.

So what of the temple? Did Jesus threaten to destroy it? No. He did tell His disciples in Mk 13:2, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” But He never said He would destroy the temple. It was a bogus claim – false report.

He did once say in Jn 2:18: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” That threw everyone for a loop. Jn 2: 20) “The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ 21) But he was speaking about the temple of his body.” The temple was the place where God met His people. Jesus was announcing there was a new temple in town – Himself. He was the only way to God. Jn 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except thru me.” The temple way to God was always temporary and always on credit. It was being replaced by the real deal. He was a way to God, not through animal sacrifice, but thru death of His perfect person. Thus the cross was at the center of Jesus’ message and Stephen’s as well. It has never been a popular message. Unsaved people hate the cross. It demands humility, repentance and faith as the only way to God. God says in I Cor 1:18: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” The exclusivity of that message offends the lost, but saves believers. What is folly to men is a thing of ultimate glory to God. Give us the cross.

The British monarch is called “Defender of the faith.” Prince Charles announced in 1994 he prefers to tweak the title so as not to elevate Xnty over Islam, Hinduism or Wicca. He said, “I personally would rather see it as Defender of Faith, not the Faith.” But that one tweak removes the cross as the focal point of history, denies the deity and substitutionary death of Christ and condemns every sinner to hell. I say, “Give us the cross. Give us Jesus as the only way to the Father.” That was Stephen’s message and ours as well.

IV. Stephen’s Defender

Now, the end of this section is priceless! 15) “And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” That glow said it all. Do you realize what’s happening? When else in the Bible did someone’s face light up with the glory of God? Exod 34:29-30: “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30) Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.” Here’s God’s non-verbal response to the elders! There stands Stephen – accused of speaking “blasphemous words against Moses” and preaching a Jesus who wanted to “change the customs that Moses delivered.” But all of a sudden the whole council sees his face light up just like Moses’ face did. You’d have to stupid not to ask, “What in the world is this about?” The symbolism is unmistakable. But they were in willful denial.

John Stott says, “Was it not God’s deliberate purpose to give the same radiant face to Stephen when he was accused of opposing the law as he had given to Moses when he received the law?” This is God’s stamp of approval on both – Moses’ reception of the law, and Stephen’s explanation of Jesus’ interpretation of the law. Stephen’s Defender is God Himself. Only a fool would have failed to pay attention. It’s as tho God was saying, “This man is not against Moses! He is like Moses – he is my faithful servant!” Next week we’ll see Stephen defending himself in one of the great sermons in the Bible, but it was hardly necessary. With that glowing face, God Himself had arrived.

Conc – In 1954, Billy Graham had a crusade at Harringay Arena in London. In one sermon he challenged people to nail their colors to the mast – an old phrase from sailing ship days. In those days your color was your flag, flying from your mast. When the man in the crow’s nest saw an enemy, he would call out to have the flag lowered so the enemy could not spot the color and blow your ship out of the water. But when you nailed your color to the mast, you were saying in effect, “This is who I am. I’m committed to this identity. And if an enemy ship coming over the horizon wants to try to blow me out of the water, that is up to him. My colors are nailed to the mast.” Stephen nailed his colors to the mast. Have you? Are you His? Rom 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The message hasn’t changed. Confess Him – confess Him and live! Let’s pray

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