Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

is the account of Stephen.

This man’s experience marks the beginning of a new chapter in the churches history.

It was from his martyrdom that led to severe persecution led by Saul, which was in God’s providence, and scattered the Jewish Christians throughout the world which was the drive to spread the Good News of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

The experience and testimony of Stephen had such an impact on the young man Saul that it later dramatically influenced his theology in understanding truth and in the gospel going to the whole world.

It was from this point that probation to the Jewish nation as the church had come to a close and the oracles of God was given to the Gentiles to fulfil God’s eternal purpose.

From an evangelistic stand point, it is from Stephen that God prepares the early church for global outreach.

Outstanding Features in Stephen’s Ministry

Demonstration of Truth

Acts 6

Stephen’s character was beautiful and his life was a demonstration of the effect of grace in the heart.

To be of “honest report” means to be affirmed favourably by firsthand authentication.

He demonstrated that he possessed the quality of being “full of the Holy Ghost.”

He was also full of wisdom.

Wisdom not only of knowing truth, but just as importantly, knowing its application (Life or in prophecy).

Three times in chapter 6 does Luke describe Stephen as being “full of.”

He was full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom and in verses 5 and 8, he is “full of” faith, the Holy Ghost, and power.

The sense of the Greek word that is here used for faith is explicit trust.

Stephen’s trust in God was marked and distinguished.

Nothing seemed to swerve him from God’s faithfulness, love, and purpose.

His faith was constant, and steadfast.

This what it means to be “full of faith” or have “great faith.”

It’s found not in measure as much as in constancy.

That great faith has more to do with it not swerving because it is fixed on Christ than how much faith we possess.

But faith is not only theoretical!

Paul uses the term

This faith and power was seen in”great wonders and miracles among the people.”

God will always approve the sayings and truthfulness of his servants speech with wonders and miracles among the people that they are speaking to in order to confirm them in the love of God.

Faith is not theological!

To be full of faith is not passive, but an active and working virtue in the Christian.

James writes that “without works, faith is dead!”

It is faith that works by love.

T

In other words, the kind of faith that Stephen that led to his righteous and practical life, which we all are to aspire to, is energised by God’s Spirit.

It is thus that faith becomes distinguishable.

It is not because it is heard from the man, but because it is seen from the man.

jas

It’s interesting that the apostle Paul had to learn later in life what he had beheld in his youth with Stephen.

That is, that gospel is to be proclaimed, not with man’s power and wisdom, but in the power and wisdom of God.

1 cor 2 1-

Stephen was humble, because God does not reveal His power in us when we stand in our own strength, but as Paul wrote, “most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Stephen had remarkable skill in sharing the gospel.

Stephen was a Jew by birth but he spoke the Greek language and was familiar with Greek customs and manners, so therefore he found opportunity to share the gospel in the synagogues if the Greek Jews.

They could not resist Stephen’s wisdom and spirit.

This reveals that to him was fulfilled the promise of Christ:

12-

They could not resist his wisdom and spirit.

This may also imply that “non-verbal” presence (tone, boldness, sensitivity) has as much to do with successful gospel presentation as does our “verbal” presence (logic, illustration, brevity, clarity).

Acts 6

Stephen had a firm and clear grasp of the gospel.

Their charge against him that “ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law.”

shows that he understood well the new covenant.

That religion is not found in religious ceremonies and in the temple, but that it is found in God made available through Christ and that the significance of the temple and the ceremonial law had found their fulfilment in Christ.

Stephen was so possessed of that faith which works by love and purifies the soul, and the demonstration of the power of God through the Spirit in himself that while standing before the Jewish council, his face had become as the face of an angel.

He was overflowing with God in his life.

What can we do to possess these characteristics?

Let this be a prayer and cause of meditation for us.

The Gospel of Stephen

What was the accusation of the Jewish leaders against Stephen?

11-

They were incredibly offended that whatever Stephen was preaching, it seemed to them to be attacking the temple and the law of Moses (ceremonial law).

The issue was never with the moral law of Ten Commandments, but with the ceremonial law known as the law of Moses.

let us deal with the Temple issue.

Stephen’s gospel was that the temple in Jerusalem was a type of the spiritual building that the New Testament church is to become.

The temple represents us and the church.

We are the temple of the living God where God and Christ are to dwell in, and the church has now become the spiritual temple and replaces the literal temple in Jerusalem.

12-

“He shall build the temple of the Lord.”

By His sacrifice and mediation Christ is both the foundation and the builder of the church of God.

The apostle Paul points to Him as “the chief Cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth into an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also,” he says, “are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:20–22.

The offerings are even now spiritual greater extent.

20

Jere 7 4

1 cor 3 16

Now with the issue of the law of Moses

Issue with the law of Moses was not only found in whether it is any more relevant for Gentile Christians to keep, but the underlying contention was that we cannot be saved without keeping it and that righteousness comes only by the works of the law.

This was a big struggle in the early church and one that the apostle Paul dealt with primarily in his writings.

17-29

rom 9 30

Faith is the criteria to becoming a Jew and no longer in circumcision.

Circumcision is only the type of the spiritual experience of the new covenant promise.

D

25

This is the only sure entrance into the kingdom of God, and it is all by faith in Christ. .

It was because he preached this truth with such force and clearness that they became enraged when in he points them back to the words of God in Deuteronomy that they were stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart.

Stephen points out their vain and empty security in being lineal descendants of Abraham and “teachers of the law” when they themselves had fallen far from the righteousness which the law requires and which only can be attained through faith in Christ.

Stephen’s Long Apology

Stephen’s long answer to the accusation laid against him includes a historical account of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David and Solomon.

Acts

It seems at first that Stephen doesn’t even answer the accusations against him, but when we read further into them, we actually see that he deals with wisdom and grace with the accusation.

In his long apology he talks of:

Abraham v2-8: God was with Abraham while he was a stranger in Mesopotamia and Haran.

God promised him an inheritance in Canaan in which he never received.

God is not limited to Israel or temples.

Joseph v9-19: God was with him even in Egypt.

God is not limited to Israel or temples.

Moses v20-44: God was with Moses when he was infant and in His providence, Moses learned the wisdom of the Egyptians.

God revealed Himself to Moses in a flame of fire in a bush and declared that “the place where thou standest is holy ground.”

The tabernacle that Moses built in wilderness was only a type of the temple in heaven which he had seen.

God is not confined to Israel or temples.

It was through Moses that God had declared that “a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear.”

God gave lively oracles to Moses to give to Israel, but Israel despised them turned their hearts back to Egypt.

They worshipped idols.

Righteousness is not found in being Jews outwardly, but Jews inwardly.

David and Solomon v45-50: The temple that David designed and Solomon built which was only according to the fashion of the one in heaven.