Week 9 | Stephen’s Speech and Martyrdom

Big Idea: True courage in witnessing comes from a deep relationship with Christ.

Scripture: Acts 7:1-60

Intro:

Imagine for a moment if George Washington had decided to bow out of the Revolutionary War because he deemed the challenge too great or the cost too high. What would our world look like today if one of the most pivotal figures in history had chosen the path of least resistance?

The United States might not even exist as we know it. Instead of a land founded on the principles of liberty and democracy, we could be living under very different circumstances. Washington’s perseverance and determination to lead through adversity remind us of an essential truth: some of the most important battles in life require us to stand firm, even when the odds seem insurmountable.

History is rich with lessons like this, teaching us the value of resilience and the importance of fighting for what is right, no matter how daunting the task.

Washington faced countless setbacks, from the brutal winter at Valley Forge to the uncertainty of a young nation’s future. Yet, he pressed on, not because it was easy, but because he believed in the cause and the hope it carried for generations to come. His story reminds us that the greatest victories are often born from the willingness to endure hardship and persist in the face of fear and failure.

This principle isn’t confined to history books—it’s something we can all apply to our lives today. Whether we’re pursuing a personal goal, standing up for our beliefs, or supporting others through their struggles, the example of leaders like Washington inspires us to embrace courage and tenacity. It challenges us to ask: What would happen if we gave up too soon? What could we accomplish if we chose to persevere instead?

Like Washington, we each have the potential to make an impact that extends far beyond ourselves, but only if we’re willing to stand firm and fight for what truly matters.

Tension:

The concept of looking back to understand the future is a powerful one, especially when we approach it through the lens of Scripture. The Bible often calls us to reflect on the past—not just as a record of events, but as a means of understanding God’s faithfulness, His purposes, and His plans for His people.

This understanding shapes how we interpret what God is calling us to in the present and how we engage with His Word. It also gives us insight into the ways people have historically responded to God’s truth, both in obedience and rebellion.

Today, as we delve into Acts 7, I want to challenge you to pay close attention to the history that Stephen recounts. This isn’t just a history lesson; it’s a deliberate retelling of Israel’s story to bring clarity to the Sanhedrin about who God is and what He has done. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, understands that Israel’s history is deeply tied to its purpose. He uses this understanding to boldly proclaim the gospel to the religious leaders, knowing the risk involved.

His message ultimately leads to his martyrdom, yet his words echo with deep significance for us as believers.

Stephen’s account forces us to wrestle with some critical questions in our own lives.

Are we, like Israel, resistant to God’s leading?

Are we willing to see the ways God has been faithful in the past and trust Him for the future?

How does our understanding of Scripture influence the way we share the gospel with others, even when it’s uncomfortable or dangerous?

As we read, reflect on how Stephen’s boldness and understanding of God’s overarching story can inspire us to live out our faith with courage and conviction.

Big Idea:

True courage in witnessing comes from a deep relationship with Christ.

Truth:

As we look at this passage there are some key themes we need to keep in mind so that we can have the right frame of events.

This is a tragic yet amazing event that happens. We are going to see the first Martyr in church history.

God’s Faithfulness Despite Human Rebellion

Stephen recounts Israel’s history to show how God has been faithful to His promises, even when His people repeatedly disobeyed Him.

God’s Work Is Not Limited to a Specific Place

Stephen challenges the idea that God’s presence is confined to the temple, emphasizing that God transcends human-made structures.

Rejection of God’s Messengers

From Joseph to Moses to Jesus, Stephen highlights how Israel consistently rejected those sent by God.

Jesus as the Fulfillment of God’s Promises

Stephen identifies Jesus as the “Righteous One,” the ultimate fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham, Joseph, and Moses.

Stephen’s Vision of Jesus

As Stephen is stoned, he sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God, a powerful image of divine vindication and approval.

Forgiveness Amidst Persecution

Stephen’s final words mirror Jesus’ forgiveness on the cross, showing the depth of Christian love and grace even in the face of death.

God’s Plan in History

The speech emphasizes how God has been working throughout history to accomplish His purposes, despite human rebellion and sin.

Read Acts 7:1-53

Acts 7:1–53 ESV

And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house, and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds. “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’ “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “ ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’ “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “ ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’ “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Stephen passionately addresses the council, emphasizing the profound significance of Israel’s history and how it all leads to the fulfillment found in Jesus Christ. He recounts the story of their ancestors, from Abraham to Moses to David, demonstrating how God’s plan of redemption has been unfolding throughout the generations. This rich history, Stephen declares, has always pointed to Jesus as the promised Messiah.

However, Stephen does not shy away from confronting his audience. He boldly accuses them of rejecting and killing the very Savior their Scriptures foretold. This rejection, he explains, is a continuation of their ancestors’ pattern of resisting God’s messengers and disobeying His will.

Stephen’s message is clear: they have failed to recognize their divine calling as a nation set apart to receive and proclaim the Messiah.

Yet, Stephen’s words are not without hope. He urges them to repent—to turn away from their stubbornness and rebellion—and to embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Messiah they claim to wait for has already come, fulfilling all the promises of God. Now is the time to recognize Him, to align their lives with God’s purpose, and to be the people they were created to be—a nation that glorifies God through faith and obedience.

In this profound moment, Stephen calls for a radical change of heart, pointing them to the truth that their history is not just a story of their past but a divine narrative culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Acts 7:54–60 ESV

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.

The leaders of Israel respond to Stephen’s message with the same stubbornness and hostility they have shown throughout their history.

Just as they rejected Jesus, the promised Messiah, they now reject Stephen, who boldly proclaims the truth about Him. This rejection mirrors the way their ancestors turned away from the prophets who came before Jesus, those who called them to repentance and pointed them toward God’s redemptive plan.

Their hearts, hardened by pride and resistance to the Spirit, lead them to treat Stephen as they treated Jesus. They accuse him unjustly, drag him out of the city, and put him to death as though he were a common criminal. In this final act of defiance, they not only refuse the message of life he offers but also attempt to silence the messenger.

Even in his last moments, Stephen reflects the character and faith of Jesus. As stones rain down upon him, he echoes Jesus’ own words on the cross, entrusting his spirit to God and asking for forgiveness for his murderers: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

In his suffering, Stephen displays a profound Christlikeness, demonstrating grace, courage, and unwavering faith.

The account concludes with a poignant and hopeful statement: “Stephen fell asleep.” This phrase, common among early believers, emphasizes that death for Christians is not the end but a temporary state. It reflects their confidence in the promise of resurrection, the hope that just as Christ rose from the dead, so too will all who place their faith in Him. Stephen’s death, though tragic, becomes a powerful testimony to the early church—a reminder that faithfulness to Jesus often comes at great cost, but it is never in vain.

Application

None of you are facing death for your faith right now, and none of you are standing before our council of people who killed Jesus, but this still has application for us here in 2024.

I wanna look at you specific ways that this applies to us. I don't want you to tune out to what we're saying because I think it's important. Again this might feel foreign for you today because we are not facing this type of persecution, but it is irrelevant.

Do you have a desire to know the word?

Stephen knows the scriptures and uses it to show why Jesus is who he claimed to be.

If you do not know something it is ok. You can say that you do not know and then go find out and come back.

Pray for a desire to know the word and ask for help if you need it!

Following Jesus is costly.

Stephen lost his life. What are you willing to give up for the sake of the gospel?

Think about this and tell someone. It matters that we are aware that following Jesus is costly. It may not be your life but maybe friends, or shows, or a sport.

Ashley gave up Gym for her walk with Jesus.

Landing

Stephen’s story in Acts 7 is a powerful reminder that true courage in witnessing for Christ doesn’t come from human strength or fearlessness—it flows from a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus.

Stephen wasn’t bold because he was naturally brave; he was bold because he knew who Jesus was, trusted Him completely, and understood the eternal significance of his message. His knowledge of Scripture and his unwavering faith enabled him to stand firm, even in the face of death, and to proclaim the gospel with clarity, conviction, and grace.

What stands out most about Stephen is how rooted he was in God’s story. He knew the history of Israel not as a mere collection of events but as the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan, which pointed directly to Jesus. Stephen’s courage was anchored in this understanding: that God’s promises were true, that Jesus was the fulfillment of those promises, and that even his death would not be the end but a part of the greater hope of resurrection.

As Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin, his confidence wasn’t in himself—it was in Christ. This same confidence is available to us today if we cultivate a relationship with Jesus that shapes how we live, how we speak, and how we share our faith. We may not face the exact circumstances Stephen faced, but the challenges of living faithfully in 2024 are real.

The courage to witness in our schools, workplaces, and communities comes not from striving harder but from drawing closer to Jesus and allowing His Spirit to work through us.

As we reflect on Stephen’s life and death, we are challenged to ask ourselves:

Do we know the Word of God deeply enough to share it with others?

Are we willing to pay the cost of following Jesus, whether that means giving up comfort, relationships, or other priorities?

How can we develop the same trust in God’s promises that enabled Stephen to face even the ultimate sacrifice with peace and forgiveness?

Stephen’s final moments reveal the heart of his courage—his vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God. This vision gave him assurance that his faithfulness mattered and that his suffering was not in vain. Today, we have the same assurance. No matter the challenges we face, we can witness boldly because we serve a risen Savior who is with us, empowers us, and promises us eternal life.

True courage isn’t about being fearless—it’s about trusting the One who is faithful. Let’s draw near to Jesus, deepen our knowledge of His Word, and step out in boldness, knowing that He is worth it all.

Pray