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“ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground’” (Acts 7:33). Acts 6:1-8:4. Threats to the Kingdom. Persecution from without (4: 1-31, 5:17-42) Prayer (4:24-30) Rejoicing! (5:41) Continued speaking the word (4:31, 5:42)
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“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground’” (Acts 7:33) Acts 6:1-8:4
Threats to the Kingdom • Persecution from without (4: 1-31, 5:17-42) • Prayer (4:24-30) • Rejoicing! (5:41) • Continued speaking the word (4:31, 5:42) • Corruption from within (5:1-11) • Recognition and confrontation (5:3-4, 9) • Fear! (5:5, 11) • Distraction (6: 1-6) • Complaints from Grecian Jews (see Ex. 16, Num. 17) • What could be the underlying issues? • Response? Choose 7 men to handle this ministry • Result? The number of disciples increased rapidly
The arrest of Stephen • Opposition arises from the synagogue(s) • Grecian Jews who were unable to debate successfully • Agitated the crowd (and the officials) to arrest him • Charges lodged against Stephen • Speaking against Moses (or against the law, saying that Jesus would change the customs delivered by Moses) • Speaking against God (specifically against the temple, God’s dwelling place, saying that Jesus will destroy “this place”) • The question: “Are these charges true?”
Stephen’s Response • Begins with the story of Abraham • The God of glory appeared to him in Mesopotamia • “Leave your country and your people and go to a land I will show you.” • Abraham was given no permanent place; circumcision becomes the sign of God’s covenant
Stephen’s Response, part 2 • Continues with the story of Joseph • Rejected by his brothers, sold as a slave into Egypt • Yet God was with him! (see Genesis 39: 20-21) • After bringing his family to safety in Egypt, he died and was later buried at Shechem (Joshua 24:32)
Stephen’s Response, part 3 • The story of Moses is paradigmatic • As special child, saved from death as an infant • Acted to rescue his people, but they did not recognize him • After fleeing Egypt, encountered God in the flames of a burning bush • Moses returned to Egypt to deliver God’s people, but • They rejected him and his words of life • They chose to worship what their hands had made • God “gave them over” (see Ex. 23, Num. 31, Rom. 1) • Not only to wander in the wilderness, but later in the exile • Yet God gave them the tabernacle of Testimony
Stephen’s Response, part 4 • The building of the temple • David, who enjoyed God’s favor, wished to build it • But Solomon (the idolater?) finally constructed it • Yet the temple could never “surround” God • Stephen quotes Isaiah 66: 1-2 • Solomon had said the same thing (1 Kings 8:27) • The summation • You are just like your ancestors! • Resisting God’s Spirit • Persecuting God’s servants • You received the law, but never obeyed it • i.e., you know the story, but you have never put yourself in it!
The Stoning of Stephen • The crowd is furious! • Stephen has a vision of the glory of God • The heavens opened • Jesus standing at God’s right hand—and then says it! • The crowd drags him out and begins to stone him • Stephen’s final words • “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (see Lk. 23: 46) • “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Lk. 23:34) • Now the persecution begins in earnest • The church scatters • Saul begins to destroy the church, pursuing the disciples from house to house (and village to village) • But the word scatters as well! (8:4; see 1:8)
