Stephen's Plea: Not Guilty!

Apostles tasked church with choosing men to take over the ministry of feeding widows

those chosen had to have had a great reputation, be full of the Spirit and full of wisdom

Stephen one of 7 men chosen to take over the ministry of feeding widows

Stephen was first among the 7

Stephen himself was full of faith and the HS and also full of grace and power, doing great wonders and signs

love for God was demonstrated in his ministry to people

was called to debate in the synagogues of the Jews

when the Jews were unable win those debates and silence Stephen they falsely accused him of blasphemy

if they could not silence his preaching they would kill him

dragged him before the Sanhedrin where he was accused of speaking against Moses and God, the Law and the Temple, all of which were capital offences

God caused his face to shine, a clear testimony to the Jews that like Moses, Stephen was a man who enjoyed God’s favour

Stephen’s ability to perform signs and wonders was also God’s confirmation of His approval of the man and his message

John 3:2 ESV

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

today we are going to consider Stephen’s defence before the Council, the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of the Jewish people

they have already heard the gospel 2x from Peter and John

to reach the world with the gospel believers must be able to defend their faith

Peter’s instruction to believers

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

it is sad fact that many Christians are unable to do this

they have little understanding of what they believe and why

they are described by Paul

Ephesians 4:14 ESV

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

instead, believers should have a thorough understanding

Philippians 1:7 ESV

7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

believers must be able both to defend and confirm the gospel

defend against false teachers and wrong views

affirm what it really is to unbelievers

Jude 3 ESV

3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Stephen exemplified this

when his opponents rejected his message and could not overcome his logic and reason they hired false witnesses who accused him of blasphemy

they they dragged him before the Sanhedrin

chapter 7 is his defence and his declaration of his commitment to God and to Moses

accused of blaspheming God, Moses, the law and the Temple Stephen would show that he was not guilty on each charge

Stephen’s Defence

question from the High Priest: “Are these things so?”

“do you speak against God and his Temple and Moses and his Law?”

Stephen’s response was to declare his innocence by affirming his faith in Israel’s history

he knew he had to capture and hold their attention

what better way to do this than to recite their history which they were fiercely proud of

Nehemiah did something similar in Neh 9 - recounted Israel’s history in order to highlight the faithfulness of God in spite of Israel’s unfaithfulness

Psalmists also used the same method in Ps 78, 105, 106

in each of these texts Israel’s unfaithfulness is contrasted with God’s faithfulness and justice

his purpose to show that his teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ was not opposed to the Old Covenant but the fulfillment of it

traced God’s sovereign will from Abraham through Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and David to Jesus

would show them that they were the ones who were guilty of rejecting Joseph, Moses and even God

finally, to present Jesus as Messiah using Joseph and Moses as types

1. Blasphemy Against God

as this was the most serious of the charges Stephen deals with it first in Acts 7:2-16

addressed his accusers as brothers and fathers

he is one of them and he honours those in authority over him

calls God, “the God of glory”

the One who orchestrates all of redemptive history from Abraham through Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and ultimately Jesus

glory is the composite of all that makes God good

Exodus 33:18–19 ESV

18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

he establishes the fact that he believes firmly and fully in the God of Israel

his plea concerning the charge of blasphemy against God: “not guilty”

having affirmed his faith in the Sovereign God he turns his attention to God’s redemptive work through Abraham as a man of faith

not only was Stephen saying he was not a blasphemer of God but he was also saying he believed in the purposes of God through key figures in Israel’s history

“Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.” (3)

because of his faith and obedience, Abraham became the father Isaac, Isaac of Jacob and Jacob of the 12 patriarchs

Abraham’s obedience under God’s sovereignty enabled him to experience God’s good purpose for his life and that of his offspring

following the flow of God’s saving work in Abraham, Stephen focused next on the 12 patriarchs, the 12 sons of Jacob

as Stephen deals with the patriarchs and their treatment of Joseph he begins laying the groundwork for his blistering condemnation in vv. 51-53

the patriarchs were among the most revered men in Israel’s history

they became jealous of Joseph and sold him into slavery

they rejected the one whom God had chosen to save them

in spite of Joseph’s brothers’ rejection,

God was with him 10 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.

Stephen clearly identified the sin of the patriarchs as their rejection of God and the the deliverer he sent to them

they sold Joseph but God rescued him

they served as a striking illustration of the Jewish nation’s rejection of God’s purpose in Jesus

the Jewish opposition to God’s sovereign will began with the patriarchs

Stephen was subtly highlighting the similarities between Christ and Joseph:

both were Jews

both were given up because of envy

just as Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife Jesus was wrongly accused by false witnesses

just as God freed Joseph from prison and exalted him to the highest office in Egypt God freed Jesus from death and exalted him to his right hand

just as Joseph delivered his sinful brothers from death by starvation Jesus delivers His brothers from spiritual death

Stephen defended himself against the accusation he blasphemed God

he affirmed God’s glorious covenant work through Abraham

he held Joseph up as an example of Christ

2. Blasphemy Against Moses (17-37)

in his first defence Stephen covered the first great period of Israel’s history from Abraham to Joseph and the captivity of Israel in Egypt

having successfully defended himself against the charge of blasphemy against God Stephen then focused on the charge of rejecting Moses

having shown that he revered God he will declare his respect for Moses

again his plea is, “not guilty!”

in this second defence he covers the history of Moses to the captivity of the nation in Babylon

“as the time of promise drew near” (17)

the time when God would fulfill his promise Abraham that his offspring would inherit the Promised Land

by this time the patriarchs were all dead and the Israelites had increased and multiplied in Egypt

they were content and they had not returned to the land God had promised them through Abraham

God orchestrated events which would force them to leave Egypt

“there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph” (18)

alarmed at the rapid growth of the Israelite nation and afraid that they might rebel or join an attacking army he forced Israel into slavery and hard labour

sought to stifle their growth by infanticide

by casting their male infants outside where they would perish

at this crucial time Moses was born

Stephen made a point of describing him as “beautiful in God’s sight”

Moses could not escape the edict of the king

like many other infants he was to be thrown into the Nile to drown (Ex 1:22)

his parents however put him into a basket believing God had a plan for him

according to God’s sovereign purposes Pharaoh’s daughter found him, took him in and raised him as her own son and he became the adopted grandson of the King

as such Moses was given the best education of the time

Stephen again praised him as “mighty in his words and deeds” (22)

as Moses approached the age of 40 he began to see himself as God’s appointed deliverer

visiting his people, saw a fellow Hebrew being wronged by an Egyptian and killed him

in this act Moses’ thought the Jews would recognize him as their deliverer (25)

on the following day he returned to find two Hebrews fighting and tried to be a peacemaker

he was not recognized and his efforts were rejected

realizing his killing of the Egyptian had become known Moses fled to the land of Midian

at the end of 40 yrs God came to Moses in the burning bush

the fire represented God’s presence and when Moses approached, God said,

“I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.” (32)

mention of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob = God renewing his covenant

God called Moses to take up his role of deliverer saying,

“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.” (34)

though God’s people were continually unfaithful to him he would remain faithful to his covenant and deliver them through Moses

a key point for Stephen:

the same Moses they at first disowned, God was sending to be both their ruler and deliverer

a constant pattern in Israel’s history:

spiritual pride + spiritual ignorance = rejection of God’s appointed deliverers

they had rejected Joseph, they had rejected Moses and this was their typical response to God’s messengers (see Jesus’ parable of the tenants in Mt 21:33-46)

Moses accomplished his mission, leading them out, performing signs and wonders in Egypt and at the Red Sea

shortly after this they rejected Moses again when they made the golden calf

they broke the law of God even before it had been given them!

because of that rebellion they wandered for another 40 yrs!

Stephen’s discussion of Moses demonstrated the great respect he had for the man

the charge of blaspheming Moses was as false as the charge he blasphemed God

Stephen turned the tables on his accusers showing that it was in fact the Jewish nation, their forefathers, who were guilty of rejecting Moses and his Law

the Jewish response to Moses and Joseph paralleled their treatment of Jesus Christ

Stephen reminded them of Moses’ prophecy:

“God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.” (37)

quotes Moses from Dt 18:15

in Jn 6:14 the crowd said of Jesus,

John 6:14 ESV

14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

though they affirmed that Jesus was the one that Moses had promised would come these leaders would not agree with them

they were doing what their forefathers had done, reject God’s deliverers

had they been willing to see they could not have missed the parallels between their forefather’s rejection of Moses and their own rejection of Jesus

Moses humbled himself and left Pharaoh’s palace and Jesus humbled himself by leaving heaven and becoming a man

Moses was rejected when he first came to his people and so was Jesus

Moses was a shepherd and Jesus was the Good Shepherd

Moses led Israel out of slavery in Egypt and Jesus leads people out of their slavery to sin

Moses was a picture of Christ and as Israel rejected Moses they rejected Christ

3. Rejection of the Law (38-43)

the transition from Moses to the Law was easy because of their close association to each other

while Moses and Israel were in the wilderness he received the law on Mt Sinai

describes the law as “living oracles”

like the rest of scripture the law is “living and active, sharper than any two edged sword” Heb 4:12

it is divine, authoritative revelation

again, in relation to the Law, Stephen demonstrated that he was “not guilty”

he affirmed God as the author of the law, angels as its mediator and Moses as the recipient

having affirmed the law Stephen went on the offensive in v.39,

Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt,

while Moses was on Mt Sinai receiving the Law from God the people turned to idolatry saying to Aaron in v.40

‘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.’

in turning away from Moses they rejected the Law as well

Aaron listened to the people and made a calf to which Israel brought sacrifices, rejoicing in the work of their hands (41)

though Stephen’s accusers made proud claims about their love of the nation for the law, their forefathers whom they honoured rejected it even before it had been given to them!

instead of destroying the whole nation God put 3000 to death

however God turned away from them, giving them over to their idolatry and eventually sending them into captivity in Babylon

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?

43  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.’

4. Rejection of the Temple (44-50)

Stephen traces the history of the tabernacle and the Temple and in doing demonstrated his respect for it

from the time of the conquest of the Land to the time of David Israel had the tabernacle

a constant reminder of God’s holy presence especially the cloudy pillar and fire by night

yet, again and again, Israel turned away from the living God to deaf and dumb idols

Stephen then turned to the Temple which Solomon built

he focused on the transitory nature of the Temple as something unable to contain God

Solomon himself confessed at the dedication of the Temple,

1 Kings 8:27 ESV

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

Stephen also quoted from Isaiah 66:1 stating the same thing

Israel treated the Temple like box into which they imprisoned God and then did whatever they wanted

Stephen was not guilty of speaking against the Temple, the Jews were for confining God to it

argued with Solomon and Isaiah that God was greater than any Temple

Summary

throughout Stephen’s defence his opponents must have been becoming more and more uncomfortable

as he shone the light on Israel’s rejection of God’s deliverers and their many idolatries they must have wondered where he was going and the point he would make

having recounted Israel’s history he not only vindicated himself but at the same time charged his accusers with being just like their forefathers

they were just like ancient Israel in the days of Joseph, Moses, the tabernacle and the Temple

like them they were stiff-necked, defiantly refusing to bow before God and his his Messiah

Stephen’s description of them as “uncircumcised in heart and ears” was especially stinging in light of their great pride in their physical circumcision and rituals

their stubborn resistance of the HS made them as guilty as the their forefathers

just as they had rejected Joseph, Moses and God’s presence in the Tabernacle so they had rejected the Messiah

Stephen’s accusation “which of one of the prophets did your father not persecute?” mirrored Jesus words in Luke 11:47-51

Stephen then made his bloody conclusion: as their forefathers killed those who announced before hand the coming of the Righteous One, they betrayed and murdered Jesus

though they had received the law they did not keep it since it pointed to Christ and they killed him

Stephen defended himself but confronted his hearers with the truth

Peter had done this both times he was brought before Sanhedrin

he charged them with murdering their Messiah

faithful evangelists never comfort unrepentant sinners!

instead they warn them

must expose the awfulness and offensiveness of their sin by confronting them with God’s standard of righteousness

contrast with the way we have been taught to share the gospel

it is argued that it is better to talk about God’s love rather than man’s sin, God’s judgment and hell

this sounds a lot easier but the scriptures show us that the love of God is put on display when human sinfulness is revealed

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

failure to talk about sin makes the love of God meaningless and the cross purposeless!

if we are to faithfully proclaim the Gospel we need to let the glorious light of Christ’s saving work shine against the backdrop of man’s sinfulness

the cross will never be understood as an answer unless the problem of sin is exposed

God’s holiness but be seen in the light of man’s sinfulness

the more we acknowledge these two truths the more glorious Christ’s redemptive work will become and the more effective we will become in our evangelistic efforts