The Stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60)
Notes
Transcript
Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Context
Context
Review
Stephen is giving a defense for his charge of blasphemy.
He goes through the history of Israel from the OT - focusing on Abraham, Joseph and Moses.
Verse 39 is a turning point. Stephen, in the power of the Holy Spirit, points the finger at the religious people who killed the Messiah and who are ironically being found opposing YHWH, the God they claim to worship.
Verses 39-53, Stephen sheds light on the dark side of Israel’s history of unfaithfulness.
Verse 52, Stephen points out how just like their fathers killed the Prophets that prophesied of the coming of the Messiah, they actually ended up killing the Messiah.
Isaiah - Has some of the most explicit prophesies of the coming of the Messiah - Was martyred by King Manessah. According to tradition, Isaiah was sawn in two.
Zechariah is another prophet that had many prophesies concerning the Messiah. His martyrdom is recorded in 2 Chronicles 24:20-22.
The Opposition We Face
The Opposition We Face
Stephen accuses the Jewish leaders of opposing YHWH, because they killed Jesus and persecute his followers. By denying Jesus, they are denying YHWH
How does the Sanhedrin respond:
Enraged - Inward
Ground their teeth - Outward
Cried with a loud voice.
Stopped their ears.
Rushed at him - violence
When we are obediently living out the mission by sharing the gospel with those around us, the hearers of the gospel will have one of two responses: belief or rejection. What we are seeing is, obviously, rejection. But there are levels of rejection:
Levels of Rejection:
Mild - Yellow Light
Hostile - Red Light
Bad things happen, how to know if what you are experiencing is persecution?
Keeping your eyes on Jesus
Keeping your eyes on Jesus
The Promise of Persecution
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
If anyone is to be taken captive,
to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
with the sword must he be slain.
Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
The call to Endure and the Promise of the Holy Spirit
Why do we need endurance? Why is endurance so important?
Because persecution is inevitable.
Persecution is coming. It is getting harder and harder to live as a Christian
Stephen kept his eyes on Jesus, through his martyrdom.
He responded the same way Jesus did (vs.59-60).
God’s Wisdom in Persecution
God’s Wisdom in Persecution
Tertullian - The blood of the martyrs is seed for the church.
Saul and his future importance.