Stephen's Courage

Stephen was Full of Faith and Power.

Acts 6:8-15

He did wonders and signs among the people.

Full of Faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5)

The Synagogue of the Freedmen (Unbelieving Hellenists) could not resist him.

Stephen might have been a Hellenistic Jew (Acts 6:3-6), so likely he was able to use their own reasoning and background to appeal to them with the truth.

Hellenism reached back to the time of the 400 years of Silence, when the domination of the Mediterranean world by Alexander the Great (Greek Empire) greatly influenced the culture of the Jews.

The Freedmen even secretly instigated false rumors against Stephen.

They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes.

They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

False witnesses were set up to accuse Stephen of blasphemy.

Stephen’s countenance before them was like an angel.

Not necessarily that he was glowing or otherwise. Not particularly supernatural.

This focuses more on the “messenger” aspect of that word.

Stephen was resolved in his faith and was going to say what needed to be said.

It is amazing that he had this attitude before 71 hostile Jewish elders.

Stephen Told the Story of Israel to the Sanhedrin.

Acts 7:1-50

Their story of God’s covenant with their people.

God appeared to Abraham.

God made great promises to Abraham.

God gave the covenant of circumcision to Abraham.

God was with Joseph and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him grace and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, to the point that Pharaoh made him governor over Egypt and his entire house.

God saved Jacob and all his family through Joseph.

God waited while the time of the promise drew near, while a deceitfully advantageous man (a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph) oppressed them and made them allow their babies to be killed.

God provided a home for Moses in Pharaoh’s house.

Led to Moses learning all he needed to know to do what he would do in the future.

His knowledge learned from the Egyptians allowed him to write the Pentateuch. (The Law)

His wisdom led him to desire to bring justice/freedom for his enslaved brethren, the children of Israel.

After he had spent another 40 years in Midian, God appeard to Moses in a flame of fire in a bush in the wilderness of Mt. Sinai.

God called him to free His people from oppression in Egypt.

Moses was sent to be “a ruler and a deliverer” by God’s hand, and specifically the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

God brought Israel out of Egypt through Moses after they were shown wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.

God gave Moses the living oracles to give to Israel. Rom. 3:1-2

Romans 3:1–2 NKJV

What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.

God gave direction for the tabernacle of witness (testimony) in the wilderness, a visible proof of the covenant between God and Israel.

God helped Israel bring it into the promised land of Canaan.

God drove out the Gentiles before the face of their fathers until the days of David.

Their story of unfaithfulness to God.

Joseph’s brothers mistreated him.

The “fathers” (ancestors) of the Sanhedrin did not want to obey God’s oracles, and rejected them. In their hearts they turned back to Egypt. (easier being slaves than responsible seekers of God)

The Israelites asked Aaron to make gods while Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving the oracles. They rejected God in this moment.

Aaron made a calf of gold, Israel offered sacrifices to it, and rejoiced in the deeds of their own hands.

In the wilderness wanderings, God gave them up (restrained them no longer) to worship the host of heaven. Amos 5:25-27

Amos 5:25–27 NKJV

“Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings In the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols, The star of your gods, Which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,” Says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.

Once Solomon built the temple, all Israel had to do was be faithful. They not only failed, they turned against God and His truth.

Even still, Stephen’s point is that God does not dwell in places made with men’s hands, but in the faithful heart.

Their story of the promise of a Messiah.

God saved Abraham from pagan worship in the land of the Chaldeans by calling him out. (framework of a messiah)

God provided for Joseph in the way He provided for the Messiah to come.

In this same way, Joseph suffered at the hands of his brothers, suffered in his service, yet rose to prominence and gained an inheritance for his entire family.

God promised a Messiah through the words of Moses.

David found grace before God, and asked to find a living place for the God of Jacob. Solomon built the temple.

Stephen accused the Sanhedrin.

Acts 7:51-53

…Of stubborn rebellion and uncircumcised Hearts. Jer 6:10-15; 9:23-26

…Of persecution of the prophets. Matt 23:29-39

…Of betraying and murdering the Messiah. Acts 3:13-26

…Of not keeping the Law. Mark 7:9

The Sanhedrin Murdered Stephen.

Acts 7:54-60

Cut to the Heart, they gnashed at him with their teeth.

Contrast to Acts 2:37

Acts 2:37 NKJV

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

They cried out, stopped their ears, and rushed at him at once.

They cast him out of the city and stoned him.

Witnesses laid their clothes down at the feet of Saul.

They stoned Stephen as he called on God to accept his spirit. Ps. 31:5

Psalm 31:5 NKJV

Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

Stephen cried out loudly, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin”

hamartia, meaning “missing the mark” - Stephen knows they are killing him because they are afraid and unwilling to understand.

Stephen fell asleep. 1 Thess 4:15

1 Thessalonians 4:15 NKJV

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

The Result of Stephen’s Courage

Acts 8:1-4

Saul consented to his death.

If he had not approved of it, would he have been so zealous to ask to go to Damascus to persecute more Christians? Acts 9:1-2

Acts 9:1–2 NKJV

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Great lamentation was made over Stephen’s death.

These brethren loved Stephen and appreciated all the good work he accomplished.

Persecution arose and the disciples scattered while the apostles remained in Jerusalem. Saul made havoc of the church.

This began the great spread of believers to “all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 NKJV

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Applications

God sees us and is proud of us when we stand up and speak out for a righteous cause.

This moment with Stephen is the only time we know of Jesus STANDING at the right hand of the throne of God after His ascension. He saw what Stephen did and honored him for it!

We must never let our own desires keep us from speaking up. (Stephen)

If he had been unprepared, lacking in faith, not zealous, then Stephen might have been afraid of those he spoke to. But he was not.

Maybe we feel like we are younger, more awkward, less knowledgeable, less important as a member of this body.

We need to remember that EVERY part of the body is important. If something wrong/sinful is happening, we should vocally oppose it.

Forbid the wrong, but promote the good. Encourage good things in your life and in the lives of other members.

When people do good things, praise them! When they do bad things, rebuke them!

Do not “shrink back”, but have faith and stand courageously in the truth. Heb 10:39

Hebrews 10:39 NKJV

But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

We must never forbid others from speaking up. (Sanhedrin)

The Sanhedrin were so wrapped up in opposing what Stephen said, they were not willing to accept any other ideas.

Gone is the reasonable voice of Gamaliel (Acts 5:34-39) Where is he? I like to think he was absent from this gathering. If he is here, then he is going right along with the crowd after all.

Acts 5:34–39 NKJV

Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

We know we can err like these stubborn jews who were uncircumcised in heart.

No matter how long I have been a member here, it is important for me to get along with everyone here.

My experience as a Christian does not give me cause to stop listening to others.

I must accept that everyone is at a different state of development. If we don’t, we may just become murderers. 1 John 3:15

1 John 3:15 NKJV

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

We must learn the lessons God taught through Stephen.

Appreciate all the good that God has done and continues to do for spiritual Israel.

Never reject the oracles of God, as fleshly Israel did.

Put your focus on Jesus and receive Him into your heart.