Acts 7:54-8:4

“Church Beginnings: Persecution, Death, and Glory”

Introduction

Many years ago, my sister and I attended a young leaders conference in D.C. where students from all over the country gathered to learn leadership lessons from important leaders. I shared a room with another student, who’s name I can’t remember. Let's call him Steve. We didn't see each other much during the day since he was in another group. I also didn’t get to see my sister too much since she was also in another group.

Now, this conference was not a Christian conference by any means. Though I was raised in a church-going family, I decided I would keep my faith hidden at this non-Christian event. I prayed quietly and briefly before meals and went along with everyone else, doing what they did. I made friends easily this way.

On the last day, two significant things happened. First, my sister, Hadassah, found me and she was sad. Come to find out, she did the opposite of what I did. She had openly shared her faith, prayed in front of others, and she endured ridicule from both students and adult leaders. Despite this, she found friends who supported her and defended her. Naturally, this made me feel ashamed for hiding my faith. My timidity, contrasted with my sister's boldness in her faith, taught me the importance of being unashamed of the Gospel.

The second thing took place that night. As I was wrestling with my thoughts, thinking maybe I could share my faith with my roommate, Steve beats me to the punch and revealed he was a Christian and decided that he too would share his faith with me. We decided to pray together, feeling both shame and comfort. I have had various moments in years past where I should’ve been bold in sharing the gospel, but I wasn’t. I have gotten bolder and stronger since those moments by the grace and mercy of God, but I don’t stand before you as perfect. The story I shared is true. I am filled with pride and wonder at my sister’s boldness. My sister’s boldness was convicting yet encouraging, but one story I find even more powerful and inspiring is that of Stephen in Acts 7. In Stephen’s story, he proclaims the gospel, is put on trial in front of the Sanhedrin – highest court of the Jews, and is killed by stoning for his faith in Jesus. Let’s pray together and then we will dive into Stephen’s story where we learn that it is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to endure through trials and hardships.

[Pray]

Big Idea: The Holy Spirit empowers us to endure through trials and hardships.

Acts 7:51–8:4 (CSB)

51 “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. 53 You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.” 54 When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep. 1-4 Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison. So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word.

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

When we look at Stephen's life, though it seems short in the book of Acts, we see a man aligned with the Holy Spirit, his eyes firmly set on Jesus. Stephen, even when he is rushed by the angry mob and stoned, he didn’t lose heart, he didn’t defend himself, he didn’t curse them back. Stephen was full of faith, grace, and power - not the kind of power to overthrow those killing him, but the kind of power which allows us to submit to the will of God even as we face death. Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit.

1. Full Of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5; 7:55)

Acts 7:55 describes Stephen as “full of the Holy Spirit.” We see this same phrase used of Jesus in Luke 4:1, after he was baptized, it says that “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.”

In both of these circumstances, this phrase “full of the Holy Spirit” came before something that tested and tempted first Jesus’ faith and then Stephen’s faith. When they found themselves facing the toughest of trials, the Holy Spirit filled them with the power to endure and persevere. That doesn’t mean the Holy Spirit isn’t with us in the good times. He is absolutely with believers even when things are going smoothly. But there is extra strength and sense of the Holy Spirit’s presence when we find ourselves facing something that challenges our faith. Just like Jesus and Stephen, the Holy Spirit gives you the faith, the grace, the power, to endure and persevere. And this is such a wonderful gift that Jesus promised his disciples on the night he was betrayed in John 14:16-17: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.”

The literal translation for Acts 7:55 is that Stephen was being filled with the Holy Spirit, meaning that as he was about to endure the hardest moment of his life, the Lord in his great generosity was giving Stephen an extra bit of divine glory, so that he could be strengthened and comforted in his final moments.

Through the Holy Spirit in us, we too are given the strength to persevere through trials and hardships.

2. Stephen’s Example: Looking to Jesus

As Stephen faced death, with people gnashing their teeth and raging at him, he didn't look at them, Stephen looked beyond them; he gazed into heaven. He looked up, and the Word of God says that Stephen said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” [pause….] In Stephen’s final moments, Stephen was looking at Jesus, the Son of Man.

a. Son of Man

In the entire New Testament, this is the sole instance where someone other than Jesus refers to Him as the 'Son of Man.” Throughout the Gospels, Jesus used this term for himself by way of telling everyone that he is the fulfillment of Daniel’s vision from Daniel 7. It is the reference of a human like figure given the throne of the divine and receiving all dominion, glory, and a kingdom where all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. This dominion is everlasting, and his kingdom will never be destroyed. This is a glorious picture. But on the other hand, the Son of Man, affiliated with a divine majestic figure, is also a statement of his humanity, born in the likeness of mankind. Quite simply, it is a title referring to the incarnation. So when we hear the title “Son of Man” we should think of his humanity and his kingship. Which makes Stephen’s use of this title all the more powerful. Stephen is seeing the Son of Man, Jesus, fully God, fully human and reigning as the rightful king.

The fact that this is what Stephen saw drove Luke, the author, to write it not once, but twice to make sure the reader didn’t miss this. When Stephen looks into heaven and sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God, he declares, "Behold, I see the Son of Man." He recognizes Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, who is alive and in heaven, bearing the marks on his hands, his side, his feet. God in his grace gave Stephen a taste of Heaven. Who could say it better than R.C. Sproul, “God peeled back the curtain for just a moment and allowed this man, on trial for his life, to see His glory. The teeth of the men that were being gnashed at him were not worthy to be compared with the blessed vision that Stephen enjoyed as he looked up into heaven.”[1]

Another fascinating detail of Stephen’s vision is the position of Jesus.

b. Standing and Sitting, Important?

This is the only time in all of Scripture that we hear the phrase “Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” In all other occurrences, he is sitting at the right hand of God. Jesus is not sitting here, but standing. Now, I admit we don’t have any clues here as to the reason why Jesus is standing. Some interpreters believe Jesus is standing as the eternal high priest interceding for his disciple and ministering on his behalf before God.

Another more agreed upon interpretation is that Jesus is standing to welcome his faithful servant as a witness and as an advocate. As the first follower of Jesus to give his life for the gospel, Stephen sees Jesus as one who stands in support and solidarity. Jesus’ position perhaps tells Stephen, "I'm here with you. You are not alone. You’ll be with me soon." I also believe Jesus could be standing because Jesus has said

“I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8).

In keeping with that promise, as Stephen is rejected by earthly courts, he finds Jesus acting as his advocate and testifying on his behalf. But Jesus is also the Judge, whose judgment alone matters from the eternal perspective. Therefore, there is nothing to fear.”9[2]

3. Stephen’s Example: Dying Like Jesus

a. Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59

So to recap, Stephen has testified about Jesus, been placed on trial before the Sanhedrin, spoke against the wrongdoing of the leaders and the crowd surrounding him, and has a vision of Jesus, the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God the Father. In sharing this vision out loud with the crowd, Stephen’s fate is sealed. The Jews cover their ears fearing God’s judgement in the presence of Stephen’s “blasphemy”. They rush Stephen, drag him outside the city and they stone Stephen. (Sproul) “The crowd grabbed rocks and stones, and with all their might they began to throw the rocks into Stephen’s face, chest, and head. First, he was cut and then bruisedand then injured more and more. What a horrible way to be executed, one stone at a time. In the midst of his pain, he prayed.”[3]Jesus gave his life to the Father by praying, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit. Stephen, in like manner, prays to Jesus saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

b. Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60

In every way, Stephen sets an example for all believers how he aimed to live like Jesus, to be full of faith, grace and the Holy Spirit, and also to die like Jesus. In Luke 23:34 Jesus prays on the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” And in like manner Stephen prays in Acts 7:60 “Lord do not hold this sin against them.” And then Stephen died.

[pause… and then slowly] I love that the Scripture says, “he fell asleep.” What could be more wonderful than what commentator, John Pohill, says about this: “The early Christians often used the concept of “sleep” for death, a confession of their assurance of resurrection. No one ever died with greater assurance than Stephen. He fell asleep with the vision of his risen Lord at God’s right hand still fresh on his mind.”[4]

Stephen’s willingness to die for the Gospel underscores that the message of the Gospel always necessitates a response.

4. The Gospel Demands a Response

The gospel always demands a response. We see the negative response of the crowd in Stephen’s story in Acts 7. We see the positive response of the crowd in Peter’s story in Acts 2 where 3,000 people came to the Lord in a single day. Two very different responses.

When you hear the message of Jesus and of the gospel, there will always be a response. C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity says that “You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

So far in the book of Acts we have seen the great witness of the disciples bearing the name of Jesus, being thrown in prison and still declaring that Christ is Lord and that there is forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus. We see Stephen speaking to the Sanhedrin with boldness, with grace.

The Gospel always demands a response. Stephen’s bold proclamation enraged the Sanhedrin, demonstrating that truth can either lead to repentance as in Peter’s story or rejection as in Stephen’s story.

5. Is Martyrdom for Everyone?

a. No

For many years, I struggled with the notion that true faith required a willingness to face persecution or even martyrdom. I felt guilt for living a relatively safe and comfortable life, unlike the stories of missionaries who faced danger or death throughout history until today. However, historical accounts show that martyrdom is not something one chooses but something for which one is chosen by God. I think of the story of Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna, who faced martyrdom with unwavering faith. When he stood trial and was being threatened with being burned alive, he was told that if he would swear by the emperor and curse Christ he would be free to go. But Polycarp replied: “For eighty-six years I have served him, and he has done me no evil. How could I curse my king, who saved me?” That powerful story, however, contrasts with a believer named Quintus, who when he experienced the same pressures, and he offered himself up to death, he could not take the pressure and he abandoned the faith to save his life. This illustrates that the strength to endure such trials comes from God, not from our own power. Church Historian, Justo Gonzalez, says this: “Many in the early church believed that martyrdom was not something that one chose, but something for which one was chosen by God. Those who were so chosen were strengthened by Christ who suffered with them, and for that reason were able to stand firm. Their firmness was not of their own doing, but of God.”[5]

b. Yes

On the other hand, the essence of martyrdom is witnessing and testifying to our faith, even at great personal cost. In the early church, the term "martyr" came to be associated with those who chose to die for their beliefs, but the word itself means to be a witness, to testify, one who declares and upholds their convictions. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him, as stated in Luke 14:25-27 and John 12:24-26. While not all of us will face physical persecution or death, we are all called to a life of sacrificial discipleship. To love anyone or anything more than we love Jesus, means he does not sit on the throne of our hearts, we do. Revelation 2:10, when Jesus is talking to the church of Smyrna, he was warning them to be strong even as suffering was to come on the horizon for them. The message is a reminder for us to be faithful, even to the point of death, because we are promised the crown of life.

Conclusion

Following Jesus comes at a cost, and that cost is different for each of us. The Lord calls us to love Him more than anyone or anything else. Stephen’s life and death challenge us to examine our own commitment. How valuable do we count our lives? Are we willing to submit our will and desires to God, allowing His Spirit to fill us and to transform us?

Stephen’s example teaches us that a spirit-filled life is one of boldness and unwavering faith. While we may not face a death like Stephen’s, we can certainly learn this from Stephen: Stephen had been dying to himself everyday as Christ commands. He knew the cost of following Jesus and that was worth everything to him. What does that look like for you and me? While we may not be called to physical martyrdom, we are all called to die to ourselves daily and to live as Christ. We are called to put to death the things of this world. On the flip side we are called to live as witnesses of Christ’s love and grace. What would it look like for us to live full of faith, of grace, of the Spirit? Let us pray for the strength to fight the good fight, to submit our lives fully to the Lord, and to see His glory work wonders in and through us. Let us pray that we would be filled with His Spirit to endure all things and to love through all things. In so doing, may we be more like our risen Lord Jesus who stands with us, for us, in all things. Amen?

Let’s pray.

[1] Sproul, R. C. 2010. Acts. St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Crossway. 9 Bruce, Acts, NICNT, 157. [2] Fernando, Ajith. 1998. Acts. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House. [3] Sproul, R. C. 2010. Acts. St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Crossway. [4] Polhill, John B. 1992. Acts. Vol. 26. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [5] González, Justo L. . The Story of Christianity: Volume 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation (pp. 53-55). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.