Stephen the Martyr

Intro

Open with talking about how Zoe follows Karen around EVERYWHERE

As Christians, we are called to follow Jesus

An important aspect of our mission statement at SBF:

“Stony Brook Fellowship is a spiritual family that encourages the under-churched and over-churched to live as devoted followers of Jesus Christ.”

We want this to be more than just a statement; we want to truly live as devoted followers of Christ

With this goal in mind, we encounter a tremendous example of following Jesus in the person of Stephen

In Acts chapter 6, Stephen is among a group of 7 chosen to serve (often called ‘deacons’)

As he is carrying out his service, Stephen also performs signs and wonders and preaches the Good News of Jesus to a Greek-speaking Jewish audience

This teaching proves inflammatory, and sparks an extreme situation where the devotion of Stephen as a follower of Jesus is truly tested

Read Acts 6:8-15.

Follow Jesus in Belef

Stephen is “full of grace and power” (v. 8) during his ministry

Power comes from the Holy Spirit

Expressed in some familiar ways (great wonders and signs like Peter and John healing the lame beggar)

Expressed in a new way (great wisdom and ability to debate)

“But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking” (v. 10)

The debate that Stephen was emphatically winning was with a group of Greek-speaking Jews

Called the “Freedmen” (had been Roman slaves or servants at some point)

Group also included more Greek-speaking Jews from other parts of the empire

Because they could not win the debate with Stephen, they instigated a religious riot

Stephen is falsely accused of blasphemy, brought before the Sanhedrin (Jewish council) and endured the testimony of false witnesses

What was the cause? What was the debate? We learn from what Stephen is accused of: (re-read Acts 6:13-14)

The issue of the Temple

Jesus DID challenge the traditional Jewish understanding of the Temple

Cf. Mark 14:56-58.

Notice the similarities in accusations; Stephen is truly following in Jesus’ footsteps

Jesus was referring to His resurrection; the same event that Stephen was bearing witness to

And this is a claim of divinity (Temple = presence of God)

The issue of the Law (and customs) of Moses

Jesus did NOT abolish the Law of Moses

Cf. Matthew 5:17 - 18.

This from the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus openly challenged the customs and applications of the Law (“you have heard it said”)

The distiniction was lost on the religious leaders, both for Jesus and for Stephen (following and teaching the same message)

So Stephen finds himself before the Sanhedrin, falsely accused…

… and “his face was like the face of an angel” (v. 15)

What?! Whatever this was, it was outwardly recognizeable to the whole council

Likely a sign of God’s presence (i.e., Moses on Mt. Sinai, transfiguration of Jesus)

The Holy Spirit is clearly abiding with Stephen as he gives his defence (necessary to summarize)

Accusation of the Temple:

Stephen declares that it is the traditional Jewish understanding of the Temple that is wrong and too narrow

Moses (tabernacle), Solomon (Temple), David (all of Creation)

Read Acts 7:48-50 (quoted from Psalm 11:4)

God has NEVER been limited to the Temple (hand made)

Furthermore, Jesus IS the manifest presence of God with us

The church is now the Temple (last week’s lesson)

Lastly, we look forward to a new heaven and new earth with no need for a Temple (seen in Revelation 21)

All a part of God’s plan from Moses - David - Solmon - Jesus

Accusation of the Law:

Stephen tracks the covenant history of Israel

Abraham - Isaac - Jacob - Joseph - Moses (exodus) - Aaron (golden calf) - exile

More than just telling a story, Stephen points to the failure of God’s people to keep the covenant and the law

They rejected Moses, worshiped the golden calf, and were sent into exile for idolatry

In other words, they have never gotten this right

Stephen turns the tables and makes an accusation of his own

Read Acts 7:51-55.

They have always resisted the Holy Spirit, and they are doing so again now

They murdered and betrayed the Righteous One (Jesus) sent by God

They did not keep the law, and they are believing wrongly again

This does NOT go over well; the council and the crowd are enraged (to the point of grinding their teeth)

And in that moment - full of the Spirit - Stephen looks up and sees the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (v. 55)

Similar to John on the island of Patmos (in the Spirit, veil pulled away)

Reinforces for Stephen that what he believes is true

Jesus IS at the right hand of the father, who is seated on the throne of the universe

Through this long and winding story, Stephen provides us the great example of what it looks like to follow Jesus in belief

That is what this debate was all about! Is Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, or not?

Not only did Stephen win the debate, but he clung to his firm belief in Jesus even as it was about to cost him everything

Cf. Luke 12:8-9.

What does it look like to follow Jesus in belief today?

This is where belief all starts: Do you believe that Jesus is who He says He is?

There are some teachings of Jesus that our pluralistic society finds increasingly offensive

Cf. John 14:6.

The world says this is old-fashioned, closed-minded and false

Jesus declares this to be true, life-giving and full of love

Can we follow Jesus in our belief like Stephen; acknowledging Him for who He is?

Follow Jesus in Forgiveness

After Stephen declares that He can see “The Son of Man” standing at the right hand of God, the anger of the council boils over; they take him out of the city and stone him

What is commanded of them to do for those who blaspheme under Mosaic Law (Deut. 13)

Overseeing this event was a young man named Saul (foreshadowing!)

As he is being brutally executed, Stephen continues to follow Jesus closely

Read Acts 7:60 “And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Does that sound familiar? It should! This is EXACTLY what Jesus himself did on the cross

Cf. Luke 23:34 “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Stephen shows what it looks like to follow Jesus in forgiveness

What an incredibly high standard; to forgive those actively putting you to death

Jesus clearly taught and modeled a high standard of forgiveness for His followers

Cf. Matthew 6:14-15.

Acknowledge Christ -> acknowledges you; Forgive others -> Father forgives you

Forgiveness as a “letting go;” NOT enabling abuse

Who in your life do you need to forgive today?

Follow Jesus in Death

Along with his cry of forgiveness, Stephen also calls out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (v. 59) before he dies

This should also sound familiar

Cf. Luke 23:46 “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.”

Once again, Stephen is closely and profoundly following the example of Jesus

Yet it’s different: He is committing his Spirit to the Lord Jesus (not just the Heavenly Father)

He knows who Jesus is; he has just seen Him at the Father’s right hand

Through his actions and final words, Stephen shows what it looks like to follow Jesus in death

He becomes the first known martyr of the church; the first (of many) to follow Jesus even at the cost of his own life

This marks a shift for the early church’s experience

His execution was also overseen by Saul (zealous Jew; persecuter of the church)

Not many of us will be required to follow Jesus in death as a martyr like Stephen

But there are many Christian brothers and sisters in other parts of the world where this is a reality

Living as a devoted follower of Jesus WILL cost us something

Are you willing to pay the cost?

i.e., promotion at work, social status at school, strained family relationships

At the heart of it, following Jesus in death is about self-denial and putting Jesus first

Cf. Luke 9:23.

Jesus is first; we are second (this is devotion)

Let us follow Him in our belief, our forgiveness and our dying to self