The Martyrdom of Stephen

a Heavy Hitter

Acts 6:8 NIV

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

-“We must obey God rather than men” -

-“We cannot stop” -

-They pissed off the status quo -

the Spark

Acts 6:9–10 NIV

Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

-Cilicia = Tarsus

“...they could not stand up against his wisdom...” (v10)

a Raging Fire

Acts

Acts 6:11–12 NIV

Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

Blasphemy

Sanhedrin

-a dangerous place

Acts 6:13–14 NIV

They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

Acts 6:

-The Holy Place

-Customs Moses handed down

Matthew 26:61 NIV

and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”

God Steps In

Acts 6:15–7:1 NIV

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

Tables are turned

-Accusers become the accused

Acts 7:54 NIV

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

Acts 7:57 NIV

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,

Stephens Great Crime

Acts 6:13 NIV

They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

Speaking Out Against Sacred Space

Acts 6:14 NIV

For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

Formalism

-Outward form is important

-Degrading God

-to see, taste, touch

-Elevation of Man

-idols, temples, rites

-an other-worldly feeling

-It makes God impersonal

-prayer becomes FUNCTION instead of COMMUNICATION

-God is moved by THINGS

Jesus Brought Change

Biggest Issue is our heart-attitude toward God

John 4:23 NIV

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

He was Crucified for the same

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Matthew 23:6 NIV

they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;

Galatians 5:4–8 NIV

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.