BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Stephen Beyond the Box

Lesson 12

Acts 6:8-7:60

As I reflect on my life up to now I have to wonder how many opportunities I have missed by failing to prepare my heart and mind for all that was open to me. In some ways it is too late to say, “If I had only ________________ .” (There are probably too many things to go in the blank) Having said that, it still amazes me the things that God has allow me to accomplish.   It has been a difficult lesson to learn that there is a world of difference between actual strengths and perceived weaknesses which are sometimes self-imposed. If someone had told me thirty some years ago that I would be writing, teaching and speaking as I am able to do I would have said there is no way that any of that would happen. The question I have to ask myself, who knows what I can do if I avail myself of working at the gifts that God has given me?

How often do we hinder ourselves and the church by hiding behind our supposed inadequacies? We fail to recognize that God has given each of us spiritual gifts to grow His kingdom and glorify him. We come up short because we do not want to spend the time and effort first to discover what those gifts are and then to mature them through study and service. We hold on to what is comfortable because we are not willing to pay the price of taking risks that may cause personal discomfort by will grow God’s kingdom. We need to remember it is not about us but God.

Stephen will be our focus for the lesson this Sunday. His ministry was short-lived but had great impact on the events that followed in the book of Acts. He was first introduced to us as one of the seven men in Acts 6:5 as a man “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” The rest of chapter six and all of chapter seven will show how these characteristics manifested themselves in a greater way than the administration of the distribution of food.

Acts 6:8

As Stephen stepped onto center stage we are told of two other characteristics that he possessed. He was full of grace and power. It is easy to understand what is meant by power. Grace presents a little more of a challenge. The Greek work use here is charis. It is the word from which we get charisma. Some of the possible meanings are God’s favor, kindness and gifts. The context would indicate either God’s favor or His hand was upon him. How else would he have been able to perform the great wonders and signs mentioned this verse.

 

 

Acts 6:9-10

The fact that the men of the Synagogue of the Freedmen began to dispute with Stephen would indicate that he was also proclaiming the gospel. His audience was probably made up of the Hellenistic Jews. They would be a perfect fit for a Hellenistic Christian like Stephen. It would be questionable if he would have had much success among the home grown Jewish population.

So who were the Freedmen to which this verse refers? These men were either first generation or the descendents of those who had been enslaved by the Romans and then given their freedom. Although they had migrated to Jerusalem they had come from present day Libya (Cyrene), Alexandria in Egypt, and parts of present day Turkey (Cilicia and Asia minor) In the case of Paul who was from Tarsus in Cilicia, we know that the families were also given Roman citizenship.

Although they tried the Bible tells us that they were “unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

1. What would have been the difference between what Stephen was sharing and the arguments that the Freedmen put forth?
2. What does it say about the position of each of them?
3. Why could the Freedmen not refute the arguments of Stephen?
4. In what ways does Matthew 10:19-20 apply to this situation which reads, “But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”
5. When we get into a discussion about our faith are we like Stephen or are we more like the Freedmen?
6. In what ways are we like either of them?

Acts 6:11-14

The actions of the Freedmen along with those they enlisted were very predictable. When the defense of their position failed the Jews resorted to twisting of the truth and personal attacks. Their claims consisted of the same old arguments made against Jesus and the apostles used before.

• Breaking of the Law of Moses thus blaspheming God
• Destruction of the Temple and the Law

 

1. What generally happens when a person is backed into a position he or she cannot defend?
2. As we have asked before who was really on trial here?
3. What do the accusations made by the mob indicate about them?

Acts 6:15

What a contrast Luke shares in this verse. Most of us have been on the receiving end of a look was described as “fixing their gaze on him.” Compare the intensity of their stare with the way Stephen appeared to them. His appearance was “like the face of an angel.” How many of you have been around someone who just seems to radiate with the Holy Spirit?

1. What does the gaze of the Council indicate about them?
2. How different were they from Stephen?
3. What could expected to happen at the trial?

 

Acts 7:1

The high priests gave Stephen the opportunity to respond to the charges.

Acts 7:2-53

For the next 51 verses Stephen gave his answer to their question. Instead of defending himself he began to share a short version of the history of Israel. We will deal with each section by first making one point about each of person then give a short explanation of the events of their lives as they interacted with God.

Abraham – God established His covenant with a people beginning with Abraham.

1. He was called to leave from Ur then Haran and move into Canaan. Acts 7:2-4
2. He did not receive an inheritance in the land into which he moved. Acts 7:5
3. He was promised that although the land would be his inheritance his descendents would be slaves in a foreign country for four hundred years and then they would return to the land.

Acts 7:5-7

4. The covenant of circumcision was given to Abraham at that time. Acts 7:8
5. Finally, the son of promise was born to Sarah and him. Acts 7:8
6. Isaac became the father of Jacob who became the father of the 12 patriarchs. Acts 7:8

Joseph- Through Joseph, the Israelites were preserved in Egypt during the time of the famine. Joseph   told his brothers that, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep alive by a great deliverance. Gen. 45:7

1. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt. Acts 7:9
2. God intervened in his life and he finally became governor of Egypt, second in rank to the Pharaoh. Acts 7:10
3. Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to purchase grain during the seven year famine. Acts 7:11-12
4. It was on the second trip to Egypt that Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. Acts 7:13
5. Joseph brought his whole family to Egypt to preserve them. Acts 7:14-15
6. After the patriarchs died they were buried in Shechem. Acts 7:16

The next verses set the stage for the coming of Moses who would bring about the redemption of the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt.

1. The people multiplied into a great nation during the 400 years of slavery of Egypt that God prophesized to Abraham. Acts 7:17
2. An important factor was that a Pharaoh came into power who forgot all that Joseph had done for Egypt. Acts 7:18
3. The Pharaoh treated the people harshly. Acts 7:19

Moses- The person who God chose to redeem His people out of Egypt came on the scene.

1. Moses was born and saved from destruction. Acts 7:20
2. He was raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Acts 7:21
3. He was educated as a prince in all the field of learning available in Egypt. Acts 7:22
4. He murdered an Egyptian and had to flee for his life. Acts 7:23-29
5. After spending forty years in the exile, God called him out of the burning bush to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt. Acts 7:30-34
6. He became both ruler and judge to the Israelites to deliver them out of bondage. Acts 7:35
7. He led them through the desert for forty years. Acts 7:36
8. Moses told the people at one point that “God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren.” Deut. 18:15 and Acts 7:37
9. Moses received the living oracles from God to “pass on to the people.” Acts 7:38
10. While Moses was on the mountain the people were disobedient to God’s commands and wanted to return to Egypt and asked Aaron to make an idol for them to worship. Acts 7:39-40
11. God turned His back on them. Acts 7:41
12. During the forty years they worshiped the false gods Moloch and Rompha. Acts 7:42-43
13. The tabernacle was build according to the instructions given Moses in the desert and carried into the Promised land by Joshua. Acts 7:44-45

David and Solomon provided a permanent place for worship. David planned for the temple and Solomon actually built it. Acts 7:46-47

As we look back on what has been shared there are some questions to be answered.

1. Why did God use those particular men to do His work?
2. What were their strengths?
3. In what ways did they have to overcome their limitations?
4. What obstacles did they face in the journey prepared for them?
5. What hope does their story provide for us?

Acts 7:48-50

From Isaiah 66 Stephen shares the transcendent nature of God. Heaven is His home not any building that can be fabricated by men. He was the creator of all things. In the last verse of the passage from Isaiah there is a very important question asked, “Was it not My hand which made all these things?”

1. What was God asking the Jews with this question?
2. What was Stephen trying to emphasis by using this particular verse?
3. If God had done all of the things that Stephen had shared what more did He have in store for them?
4. How would you answer the question
5. Why it important for us to acknowledge what God did for the Jews in the past?
6. How did all of those things affect us today?

Acts 7:51-53

All that had been said before was preparation for the charges that Stephen was going to make in the following verses. He said of the Jews that, they:

1. Men who were stiff-necked meaning they were stubborn and determined to go their own way.
2. Men who were uncircumcised in heart. Their relationship with God was only external and not real.
3. Resisted the Holy Spirit.
4. Were persecutors of the prophets.
5. Killed those who prophesied of the coming Messiah.
6. Were those who betrayed and murdered the Righteous One.
7. Had received the law through Moses but had not kept it from the time it was given.

Acts 7:54-60

Rather than repenting they actually confirmed the words of Stephen by their response to him. Accused of these things we can understand the reaction of men who were guilty of each of them. What a contrast we have here between the anger of the men who had heard the words condemning them and the peace of one who was “full of the Holy Spirit.”

While they were:

1. Being cut to the quick.
2. Gnashing their teeth at him. We can almost imagine them growling.

Stephen was:

1. Gazing intently into heaven and seeing the glory of God.
2. Seeing Jesus at the right hand of God ready to receive him and possibly speaking on his  behalf before the Father.
3. Describing what he saw to his accusers.

 

These final statements caused the mob to

1. Holler
2. Cover their years
3. Rush upon him
4. Drove him out of the city.
5. Begin stoning him.

Stephen then asked to things

1. Lord Jesus receive my spirit
2. Forgive these men who do not know what they are doing.

And Stephen died.

During the coming week spend some time reflecting of those things that you think are limiting factors in your service to Christ. Begin to honestly look at your Spiritual gifts, passions, abilities, personality and experiences to see how they may be used in the Church.   If you have not taken class 301, which is available to you here at Bethany Place, consider participating in it. It will help you discover how God has wired you.

We need to look for those places in the Church where we may serve. At first they may not be comfortable because each will have with it a learning curve. We need to begin to understand that God has provided all of the resources for Bethany Place to minister in our community. We need to avail ourselves of all He has given and be willing to use them for His glory. We can make the whole greater than each individual part if we allow ourselves to operate under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let Stephen be our example of those who have a can do attitude.

Additional Notes:

Looking at the brief history shared in these verses here are some random thoughts.

1. What role did the people play in all that took place?
2. Who were the primary players and what was their part?
3. Who was the Director?
4. How did all of the events play out according to His plan for His people?
5. How much of their history looks like what has occurred in our own lives?

We too have a history.

1. In what ways are we like the Jews to whom Stephen spoke?
2. In what ways are we like Stephen?
3. If all of the events about which Stephen spoke were part of a giant mosaic what are the pieces that he would have said were missing in the lives of the Jews and possibly us as well?
4. Why are these pieces so important?
5. What might be the consequences in not having all of them to complete the design?

Summary of what has been discussed above. (In my own words)

God gave you (The Jews) to be His children through the covenant with Abraham. You were preserved and kept safe beginning with Joseph. He used Moses to bring about your rescue and redemption out of Egypt. As His people you received the law and both the tabernacle and the Temple for the sacrifices for sin and worship. You have however rebelled continually throughout your history against the very God who has provided you everything you need.

If all that was not enough you have persecuted and killed the prophets who were sent to speak against your godless actions and bring you back to the Father and who spoke of the coming Messiah. The final act of rebellion was to take part in the killing of the Righteous One.

Stephen

Refuted the charges by using what God had said in His word. While we might be quick to defend ourselves with the old standard, I am not or I did not, he proceeds to build a case with his selective telling of the history of his people. Although on the surface it does not appear to answer the charges, with the telling of the narrative found in the Old Testament he accomplishes what he set out to do.

The Holy Spirit directed him to use those examples in making his defense. Stephen was not really the one on trial. The Jews once again were the ones who had defend their rejection of the Messiah. They attacked him to stop the spread of the evidence against all they had done.

1. Why did Stephen not openly defend himself? (The cause of Christ is greater than any man.
2. Why did he use the approach he did? They had already heard the gospel spoken by Stephen and had see the miracles performed and had rejected all of the evidence. What more could he say on his behalf?
3. What was he saying about the men with the evidence he presented? For all of the opportunities they had been given they had hardened their hearts to what was being proclaimed and were disobedient in the fashion of their ancestors.
4. Although the Jews claimed that Jesus and now Stephen spoke of the destruction of the law and the temple, they had already broken the law and their refusal to believe in the Messiah would bring the downfall of the nation and the destruction of the temple. Stephen saw no need to defend that which would ultimately take place.