Sermon Tone Analysis
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Stephen: A Man Full of Grace
The Scripture tells us that Stephen was a man who was full of faith and power and did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Growth in Church
Now, before this we should not an interesting matter.
Right before Luke talks about Stephen, he said that there was increase in the Word of God, there was increase in disciples, Church multiplied, and there were a company of priests obedient to the faith.
Even though there was growth, there was also a contrasting event that would be happen shortly.
Stephen was doing his work, preaching and teaching.
He was doing great.
However the issue was among the people “about” what Stephen was saying.
The Issue
The issue stated here was that they were “disputing.”
Meaning, they were contending with persistence for a point of view.
It is basically arguing about who’s view is right and wrong.
Also note that these disputes were ongoing for some time, because the term for “dispute” was a present participle.
The Accusation Against Stephen (6:11-7:1)
So my question and thoughts until this point is: What is this accusation about?
What did Stephen do?
Why were these people targeting Stephen who was simply preaching and teaching?
What is their problem?
We should not the ministry of Stephen.
Stephen was a man full of faith and power and he was doing wonders and miracles among the people.
Not only that, he was also going to “synagogue” namely, the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians and of them of Cilicia and of Asia.
So he was teaching; Stephen was spoke about his faith in Jesus, the Messiah.
So this may have stirred up an issue or many issues.
So they:
Stirred up people, elders and brought them before the council.
They set up false witnesses to obviously destroy Stephen.
They accused him of blasphemy.
Almost similar to Jesus’s incidents before crucifixion?
What brought Stephen’s death was not because he taught the leaders and people a lesson.
But that he claimed to see Jesus, the Son of man standing at the right hand of God (7:56).
Jesus in his trial said that he would destroy the temple and build it in three days, but the main issue was that Jesus claimed to participate in God’s rule over all the world.
Look at the similarity of question by the council: For Stephen, the hight priest asked in 7:1 - “Are these things so?”
For Jesus, the high priest asked: Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
Jesus said, “I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
So there are some similarities in these accounts.
As a side note at this point: Stephen was accused of blasphemy and was brought before the council by those who were arguing with Stephen in the synagogue.
Maybe Saul/Paul was also one of those people arguing?
Because Saul made a huge issue based on 8:3.
Stephen’s Response Before the Council (Acts 7:2-53)
About Abraham and the Promise to him (7:2-19)
The appearance of the glory of God to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia (7:1-6)
God told Abraham to go out from their land to the land that God would show/give.
What is the point?
We see the point in Acts 7:7
But as John Polhill comments, “The real goal of God’s promise to Abraham was not the land at all.
It was instead the freedom to render true worship and devotion to God. Stephen would go on to show that even the temple had not realized this purpose.
The promise remains yet unfulfilled.
It is only fulfilled in Christ.”
About Moses and His activities in Egypt (Acts 7:20-36)
In this section, Stephen points out to God raising a prophet amount them, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 18.
That prophet is Jesus.
And these people did not believe in Him; they have rejected him.
So you see how the Holy Spirit is escalating the matter to point out the wrong these people did to Jesus.
In verse 39 he points out that their fathers “did not obey.”
Look at verse 40 - Acts 7:40
Verse 43 should rip these listeners’ hearts.
Now, notice that Stephen is bringing in an important issue - the temple.
The Temple is important to these people, because according to the Law, the Temple is where God resides.
True, that God gave the specifications for this temple construction, but that does not mean that God is confined to the four walls of the temple!
Stephen then attempts to make a big change here - He quotes Isaiah, and says God does not dwell in the house made by human hands.
The temple is likened to an idol.
So, do not completely rely upon it.
Acts 7:49-53says:
This has pierced their hearts.
The theological principle of this Israel’s history is that it teaches about God’s true dwelling place.
Not in the midst of four walls.
He is not and cannot be confined.
He is all over!
He is the LORD of all!
The Death of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60)
So these people had enough of it.
The enraged people are about to kill Stephen.
Stephen’s Death
These people did not change; their hearts are rebellious.
They have killed an innocent.
Just like they have killed Jesus.
However, Stephen also prayed like Jesus, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”
Conclusion:
Believers should proclaim the Gospel courageously in-spite of danger and death.
We must forgive our enemies.
Forgiving one another is one of the main teachings of Jesus.
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