The Life of Stephen: Living as a Blod Witness for Christ

Introduction

Image: Eusebius of Caesarea wrote down the Ecclesiastical History for the purpose recording the history of the Church up to that point. The History starts from the beginning of the world in Genesis up to his point. The History covers the significant events in Church History. One of those significant events is the beginning of Martyrdom in the Christian Church.

Eusebius records in his history about the first martyr Stephen saying: “...the first and greatest persecution of the Church in Jerusalem...” Many Martyrs followed him as Martyrdom would be the foundation for the Church as many significant figures such as Peter, Paul, James, and other following them. The History of the Church is filled with several martyrs that would play a pivotal role in the Church.

We set learn about these great heroes of the faith in our HT 101 class. How many of the early Church Fathers such as Ignatius, Polycarp, Irenaeus, and many others would lay down their lives for the gospel. There is always a small little thought in the back of my mind that goes What if I could evangelize like these men. I wish I could be as bold as these men.

Need: We all have been there wanting to be that bold witness for Christ. The boldness to preach the gospel to share the hope the we have hold. The truth of the gospel that is Jesus is the son of God. Jesus is Lord and Savior that he will come again. We buckle under the weight of fear and potentiate failure. The boldness for evangelism in our day-to-day life. We wish that we would that same kind of evangelistic Spirit that many of the apostles and Church fathers possessed. The Apostles and Fathers faced many oppositions.

Subject: How do we as Christian witness live in the face of opposition to the gospel? Christians in every age have always faced oppositions to the gospel. We may not be looking at death in the face when we sharer the gospel, but we still face opposition of a kind. The opposition may come in the form of social isolation or might come in the loss of a job. How will we be bold in our witness when those oppositions come?

Text: The text will be looking at is Acts 6:8-15; 7:54-60.

Preview: We will look at Stephen’s life as a model for the Christian witness in a world opposed to the Gospel.

Body

Context: Let me give you a little contexts for where we find the story of Stephen. The Story of Stephen is found in Acts 6:5-8:3 as he is one of the seven men that was chosen by the apostles to help with the serving of the ministry in Jerusalem in verse 5 as noted being full of Holy Spirit standing out from the rest of the seven. This phrase full of the Holy Spirit is seen through out the book of Acts as it is mentioned several times before this time.

I. Stephen models what it means that the Christian Witness is empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 6:8-15)

Stephen was original selected from the disciples to help with the serves of the daily needs of the people. He is seen going out witnessing to his fellow Jews and the Holy Spirit is with him. The Holy Spirit is speaking through him which his fellow Jews could not stand.

a. The Holy Spirit fills the Christian Witness to do great works (6:8)

We see that Stephen is said to be full of the Holy Spirit in verse 8. “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8) The Spirit of God is working in his life as evident of the signs and wonders as conforming the word of God. [1] Which would tie in with the response from the freedman as they could not withstand him, not because he was a gifted speaker in his own right. The Holy Spirit is equipping him to be the bold witness to bold proclaim the word of God. The Signs and wonders were evident that the Spirit of God was moving through him.

[1] F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 124.

b. The Holy Spirit gives the Christian Witness words to speaks (6:10)

The response that he receives from the freedman is not the ideal response that we would like when we witness. Verse 10 says: “But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” (Acts 6:10) They wished that they could outwit him, but the words that Stephen was speaking with was not his words, but the words that come from the Holy Spirit. The texts says that he spoke with wisdom and with the Spirit. The Spirit provided him with the words to speak. [2]

[2] Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998), 257.

c. The Holy Spirit is present with the Christian Witness (6:15)

Stephen is accused of blaspheme against Moses, the law, and the temple in the previews verses. Verse 13 says these man gathered false witness. The irony of this passage that is he is being accused of speaking against the law by man who are breaking the law. We see in verse 15: “And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” (Acts 6:15) The phrase saying: “like the face of an angel.” has been interpreted several different ways. Some people think it means that Stephen was a good looking dude! Like he got a face like an angle. The best interpretation for the phrase is that he is innocent, that the Holy Spirit is with him. The sermon that he is about to preach shows demonstrates that his sermon is inspired.

d. We know the Holy Spirit equips his people to be witness (MTR)

The Christian Witness does not evangelize in his own power. The Christian witness does not witness alone. We see in the life of Stephen that he is a witness that is filled with the Holy Spirit. He did not witness in his strength, but in the Holy Spirit. We should never witness apart form the Holy Spirit.

II. The Christian Witness loves like Christ amid opposition (Acts 7:54-60)

As we jump to our next passage which appears at the end of chapter 7. Stephen had finished giving his famous sermon if you have a chance all of you should go back and read his sermon. He retells the story of Israel and the consistent rejection from Israel toward God. He responds to their objections in verse 48 through 53. We see him about to make his bold witness before his accusers.

a. Jesus’ presence is with the Christian Witness in opposition (7:55-56)

Stephen’s accusers stood there with anger displayed outwardly and inwardly. Verse 55 states: “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.” (Acts 7:55) The same characteristics that we have seen said of Stephen appears again that he is full of the Holy Spirit. The same word ἀτενίζω used here for gaze as it appeared the first time back in verse 15. Our very own Darrell Bock in his commentary sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God functions Jesus serving as the judge and receiver of Stephen’s testimony.[1] Jesus is present with his people and declares that Stephen’s testimony is true.

[1] Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. 312-13.

b. The Christian Witness will face opposition for the Gospel (7:57-58)

Verse 57 and 58 show their response to Stephen saying that he sees Jesus at the right of God. In their minds Stephen has just committed Blasphemy. Stephen had for all purpose just declared Jesus to be God. The men followed the OT Law by taking Stephen outside to be stoned death. Very much in the same way that Jesus was lead out from Jerusalem so Stephen was too. Stephen models that the Christian witness will face opposition for declaring that Jesus is God.

c. The Christian Witness loves and prays for their enemies (7:59-60)

We see in the second half of verse 59 and 60 Stephen saying: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 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.” (Acts 7:59b-60). Stephen’s words are the same as Jesus’ words when he is on the cross. He prays for them as some of them are leading the killing blow. Stephen models what means for a Christian witness to love their enemy. Stephen’s last words is prayer for those killing him. That is a kind of love that only comes from the Holy Spirit.

d. We show Christ’s love even when it is difficult and comes at a cost (MTR)

The Christian witness love unconditional even though who want to harm. Being Christian Witness is not easy and if I stand up here tell you it is not then I’m lying to you. We are called to love and evangelize and that sometimes mean that they will be cost. I ‘m not telling you go get yourself killed or harmed for Jesus, but there will be times when we called to love even in the most difficult of situations.

III. Live as a Spirit-filled witness for Christ even when it is challenging! (HP)

We are called to live as a Spirit-filled witness for Christ even when it is challenging! This is the application of this passage. I want to give you three take away from the witness of Stephen.

a. Do not just learn about the martyrs be a witness!

I started this sermon with the history of the Martyrs how Stephen’s Martyrdom was the beginning of a long line of Martyrs in the Church. It is so easy to learn about their history in our classes. The problem with simply learning about their history is that this is our heritage. We cannot forget that we are called to go out and be that Spirit-filled witness. We stand on the shoulders of giants that have come before us. Let us be bold in our witness like those who came before us.

b. Witness as though the Holy Spirit is present in you!

As I stated back in Acts 6 we know that the Holy Spirit equips his people to be witness. I want to ask you a question do you witness as though the Holy Spirit is present in your life? I could ask you more broadly do you do anything in the Christian life in your own strength? I want you to know that the Holy Spirit gives us words to speak and boldness to approach that stranger. Do you still feel the Holy Spirit pulling at your heart? Or have shut off the Holy Spirit form working in that area of your life?

c. Love like Christ even when it is difficult!

Maybe I do not need to encourage to go out there and evangelize to every person you see. Maybe your problem is that the moment that evangelism becomes to difficult you check out. I will only love that person in front of me for a while, but when it cost me. When I have to help meet their needs with their bills or buy a meal to share the gospel with them. It’s too much! or Maybe you will be put into this same situation like Stephen will you pray for your enemy as he or she is about to lead the killing blow?

Conclusion

1. Summary: The Life of Stephen exemplifies the life of a Christian Witness. The Christian Witness never witnesses in their own strength, but as a Spirit-filled witness. Neither should you!

2. Challenge: I want to leave this question. Will you be a Spirit-filled witness that would make Christ stand?