Acts 7:54-60 • The Response

People always respond to the Gospel Message

Positive - accept or hear more

Negative - rejection

Acts 17:32-34a Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed,

People always respond to the Gospel Message

Positive - accept or hear more

Negative - rejection

Indifference - rejection

The Temple officials responded negatively

Acts 7:54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.

They were told the truth but rejected the message.

Pentecost - What shall we do?

God gave Stephen a huge blessing

Acts 7:55 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.

Full of the Spirit - Saw God's glory and Jesus

Acts 7:56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

NOTE: Saul/Paul

Would also later see a heavenly vision

When he was changed by God

Acts 9 - Bright light and voice

Acts 26:19a “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision..."

2 Cor 12 "caught up to the third heaven"

The leaders' second response

Acts 7:57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.

Cried out - Drowned out Stephen's voice

They literally covered their ears

Ran at him with one mind

Actively refused to listen to the message

Acts 7:58a Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him.

- Kill the messenger

Introduction to Saul

Acts 7:58b And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Watching the cloaks

Saul approved of what was happening

Acts 7:59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Jesus on the cross

LK 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Acts 7:60 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.

Dying act was to pray for his persecutors

Jesus on the cross

LK 23:34a And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The religious leaders rejected the message of Jesus Christ.

They had their religion and did not want to give up their idols.

Temple

Rules

Their prestige

We all have our idols, pride, selfishness

How will you respond?