God’s Message, A Human Reaction

Introduction:

What happens to Stephen challenges us to think about biblical teaching on two spiritual topics:

Wisdom vs. foolishness

The assumption of generational superiority

We also need to remember that within Acts, what happens to Stephen changes the dynamic for Jesus’ followers permanently.

Would we be willing to tell the truth even if it cost us our lives?

How do people react when they hear the truth?

We would like to assume they would react positively, but this connects back to wisdom vs. foolishness above.

So far, Stephen has said nothing about Jesus, and he will not name him by name.

Following Jesus can come with a cost especially when articulating the truth in public.

Stephen Repeats God’s Own Assessment

Stephen alludes to any of the following passages:

Exodus 32:9 “And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.”

Perhaps the most natural is: Deuteronomy 10:12–17 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.”

2 Kings 17:13–14 “Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God.”

Jeremiah 7:26 “Yet they did not listen to me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.”

This generation of Jews saw themselves as superior to their fathers.

Jesus observed the following in Matthew 23:30 “καὶ λέγετε· εἰ ἤμεθα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν, οὐκ ἂν ἤμεθα αὐτῶν κοινωνοὶ ἐν τῷ αἵματι τῶν προφητῶν.”

Their fathers killed the prophets who foretold of the coming of the Righteous One, and presently, they have become “betrayers and murderers” of him.

They did not value God’s law.

They violated it by committing murder.

Thus, they have the habit of rebelling or rejecting the Holy Spirit.

Moses

Solomon

The Prophets

God’s revelation of the realities about Himself.

A Foolish Response:

They were being “sawn in their hearts” an expression that points toward intense, burning anger.

They serve as a lesson to us reminding us of biblical teaching about the rebellious:

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 9:7–8 “Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.”

Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”

Proverbs 29:1 “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.”

The morally rebellious react in anger:

Proverbs 12:16 “The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”

Proverbs 17:12 “Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.”

Proverbs 29:11 “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”

This is how the people react to Stephen’s words and his observations about Jesus.

He sounds like the apostles at the Ascension.

He confirms seeing the Son of Man at the right of God.

Following Christ and communicating God’s word can come with a high cost.

Are we willing to accept that cost?

How serious are we about God, and how convinced are we that Jesus is the Son of God at the right hand of God, the Father?

The Conclusion

We need to remember that within Acts, what happens to Stephen changes the dynamic for Jesus’ followers permanently.

Would we be willing to tell the truth even if it cost us our lives?

To identify with Jesus calls us to the following:

Imitation of Jesus’ characteristics: these are also the virtues of God (1 Peter 1) and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5).

Imitation of faithfulness unto death:

John 15-16

Luke 9:23 “Ἔλεγεν δὲ πρὸς πάντας· εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἔρχεσθαι, ἀρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καθʼ ἡμέραν καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι.”

John 15:20 “μνημονεύετε τοῦ λόγου οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν· οὐκ ἔστιν δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ. εἰ ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν, καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν· εἰ τὸν λόγον μου ἐτήρησαν, καὶ τὸν ὑμέτερον τηρήσουσιν.”

Note all of Jn. 15:18-27

Three Issues around the Death of Stephen

A spiritual vision that makes a claim about Jesus’ identity. (Acts 7:55-56)

We have language that mirrors the Ascension event.

Acts 1:10 “καὶ ὡς ἀτενίζοντες ἦσαν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν πορευομένου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο παρειστήκεισαν αὐτοῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν λευκαῖς,”

Because he is said to be “filled with the Holy Spirit,” this also associates it with the Pentecost event.

Stephen provides another witness to the crowd of Jesus’ exalted status.

For some reason, he stands in this vision rather than sits.

Location, perhaps, is what matters above all.

A unified mob reaction. (Acts 7:57-59)

Notice how their unity mirrors the earlier unity of the church.

This points us toward, or reinforces, the changes circumstances for believers in Jerusalem. (Stephen is not well-respected like Jesus or Peter).

Luke introduces Paul (Saul) into the events.

Notice also that the witnesses take off their clothing and lay them at his feet. (Leviticus 24:14 ““Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him.” ).

An imitation of Jesus (Acts 7:60).

Stephen’s attitude of forgiveness reflects Jesus’ own at the crucifixion.

Lk. 23:34

What degree of spiritual maturity does it require to pray for God’s longsuffering toward the very people who are in the act of killing you?

What would our reaction be?