Acts 7:1-60
This chapter tells us of the death of Stephen the newly appointed deacon of the church. Last chapter we saw him preaching powerfully and being the object of persecution. This chapter tells of his defense and death. We may no understand why God would allow such a faithful servant to face such persecution, but we can be assured that it was all a part of God's plan for him and all of us can benefit from the example he set.
STEPHEN RECITES THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL: He had been accused of speaking evil against the Law and the fathers of Israel. Stephen proves that he knows the history of his people and he knows the Scriptures. He honors the patriarchs and the prophets and demonstrates how they all had pointed to Christ. His knowledge of God's Word and history is a challenge to all of us and should encourage us to study the Old Testament more faithfully.
STEPHEN REBUKES THE HYPOCRISY OF THE JEWS: He pulls no punches and shows them that their claims of honoring the Law and the prophets are false because they rejected Christ. It would have been more politically correct and he might have lived longer had he not done this, but in so doing he would have been neglecting his job as a herald of God's Word and his responsibility to testify of Christ. His hope was that his confrontation would lead them to repentance, but apart from the work of the Spirit in their lives, their rejection of the truth led them to respond to his accusations with violence and murder.
STEPHEN RECEIVES A HEAVENLY VISION: As he is being run out of town, yelled at and stoned, God grants him a vision of heaven. He sees his eternal destiny set before him and is filled with great comfort and joy. God does not promise to remove His servants from the pain and persecution of this world, but He does promise to strengthen them in their time of need. Stephen was not alone as he was put to death. God was with him giving him the strength to endure and a hope that made his circumstance bearable.
STEPHEN REPEATS THE HUMILITY OF JESUS: Stephen does not respond to his killers in the same way as they are treating him. He does not yell at them, call them names or pray for God to avenge his death. He, as Christ had done before him, prays for their forgiveness. This is the love and grace of God made evident in the life of His child. This is what God wants to see in our hearts. We must love the people of the world even if we hate their sin, we must pray that God would grant them forgiveness. Our hearts must break for their lost condition and the dreadful consequences that will follow if they do not repent and trust Christ. Even when unbelievers ridicule us and our beliefs or should we be called to face other forms of persecution, our hearts should be tender and we should pray for God to extend His grace even to them.
STEPHEN RECITES THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL: He had been accused of speaking evil against the Law and the fathers of Israel. Stephen proves that he knows the history of his people and he knows the Scriptures. He honors the patriarchs and the prophets and demonstrates how they all had pointed to Christ. His knowledge of God's Word and history is a challenge to all of us and should encourage us to study the Old Testament more faithfully.
STEPHEN REBUKES THE HYPOCRISY OF THE JEWS: He pulls no punches and shows them that their claims of honoring the Law and the prophets are false because they rejected Christ. It would have been more politically correct and he might have lived longer had he not done this, but in so doing he would have been neglecting his job as a herald of God's Word and his responsibility to testify of Christ. His hope was that his confrontation would lead them to repentance, but apart from the work of the Spirit in their lives, their rejection of the truth led them to respond to his accusations with violence and murder.
STEPHEN RECEIVES A HEAVENLY VISION: As he is being run out of town, yelled at and stoned, God grants him a vision of heaven. He sees his eternal destiny set before him and is filled with great comfort and joy. God does not promise to remove His servants from the pain and persecution of this world, but He does promise to strengthen them in their time of need. Stephen was not alone as he was put to death. God was with him giving him the strength to endure and a hope that made his circumstance bearable.
STEPHEN REPEATS THE HUMILITY OF JESUS: Stephen does not respond to his killers in the same way as they are treating him. He does not yell at them, call them names or pray for God to avenge his death. He, as Christ had done before him, prays for their forgiveness. This is the love and grace of God made evident in the life of His child. This is what God wants to see in our hearts. We must love the people of the world even if we hate their sin, we must pray that God would grant them forgiveness. Our hearts must break for their lost condition and the dreadful consequences that will follow if they do not repent and trust Christ. Even when unbelievers ridicule us and our beliefs or should we be called to face other forms of persecution, our hearts should be tender and we should pray for God to extend His grace even to them.
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