When Jesus Stood
Last week, we met Stephen for the first time. Along with other noble Christians, he was selected to serve the church. Clearly, he was a good man, well respected, trustworthy, and faithful. In today’s scripture, we see even more of his character on display, when he is falsely accused by the Jews, just for standing up for the truth of the Gospel (does that sound familiar to you?). And just like Jesus, Stephen tells the truth under tremendous fire, and he does not falter. Let’s take a deep dive into this man's life as we know it, and see what lessons we can learn and apply in our lives today.
Scripture
Acts 6:8-7:60 ESV And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 44 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, 49“‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? 50 Did not my hand make all these things?’ 51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” 54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 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. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together[b] at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “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.
Bible Study Questions
Great power
We meet Stephen doing great signs and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit. What wonders do you suppose he was doing and how was he doing them?
Acts 6:8 ESV And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
John 14:12 ESV “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
Romans 15:19 ESV By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
The power resisted
We’re not exactly sure how the brawl started, but some people from the synagogue of the freedmen (freed slaves who became Jews) were disputing with Steven despite his many signs and wonders. This is a sequel to Jesus’s life and teaching. Why do you think these people could not get it?
Acts 6:9 ESV Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), rose up and disputed with Stephen.
2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
John 12:40 ESV “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”
The power prevailed
Despite the resistance of these freedmen, their resistance was futile. The scripture says that they could not withstand the wisdom with which Stephen was speaking. This term withstand is battle terminology. What does this tell you about the extent to which Stephen was preaching?
Acts 6:10 ESV But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
Ephesians 6:17 ESV And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Hebrews 4:12 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Misplaced reverence
Stephen was speaking to the people about the good news of Jesus Christ. But they received it the wrong way, taking great offence. What was the offence they perceived, and why was so offensive to them? Where should they place their reverence instead?
Acts 6:13 ESV and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,
John 2:19 ESV Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Matthew 5:17 ESV “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Matthew 22:36-37 ESV “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (37) And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
The truth about the law and the temple
Stephen goes on an epic discourse through the Old Testament to show the Jews that the whole purpose of the law was to provide a way for the Messiah, and the temple was their temporary meeting place. When Jesus came to replace the temple, they rejected Him. Stephen boldly speaks the truth! What does he tell them?
Acts 7:49-53 ESV “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? (50) Did not my hand make all these things?’ “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. (52) Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, (53) you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
Acts 6:37 ESV This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers
The human response to the truth
What did the Jews do when they heard the truth that Stephen spoke in the Spirit?
Acts 7:54-60 ESV Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. (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. (56) And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (57) But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. (58) Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. (59) And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “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.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, (4) and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Courage under fire
The Jews hauled Stephen out of the city and stoned him to death. This is a terrible way to die. Yet we see no fear or remorse from Stephen. There is a sense of joy of the coming doom. How does Stephen react to his impending death? How does Jesus react? What can we learn from Stephen?
Acts 7:59-60 ESV And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “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 7:56 ESV And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Luke 12:8 ESV “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,