231. STEPHEN—MARTYR FOR THE KINGDOM

"They were not able to resist the wisdom and power by which he spoke".

 

There was a problem in the early ecclesia in relation to the care of the widows. This was solved by the appointment of seven brethren to look after their welfare. One of the seven was Stephen, who was also actively engaged in preaching and contending for the faith. The hatred of the Jews against the rapidly-growing sect of Christians became concentrated against Stephen who was brought before the Sanhedrin. In a powerful speech he showed that God was not as interested in an outward show and pride in the Nation, Land, Law and Temple as He was in the attitude of the men claiming to serve Him. The Jews could not bear Stephen's criticism and mercilessly stoned him to death.

 

Acts 6 and 7

 

MURMURING AMONG THE BELIEVERS (Acts 6:1).

The ecclesia in Jerusalem continued to increase in size, but unfortunately this brought new problems. The twelve apostles found more and more of their time was being spent in organisation rather than in prayer and teaching of the Word. From such references as Acts 2:46; 4:32-35 and 6:1, 2 it is apparent that the brethren and sisters lived a communal life in which donations from those more wealthy went into a common fund used to provide a daily meal for the poor and widows. Further action in this matter became necessary when a group of Greek-speaking Jewish brethren complained that the widows of, the Hebrew-speaking Jews were better cared for than their widows, who they claimed were being neglected. This should not have been the case because despite their backgrounds they were all united in Christ, and We can be sure that the apostles would have looked after all of them as fairly as possible.

 

SEVEN BRETHREN ELECTED (verses 2-7).

The apostles called the ecclesia together and pointed out that it would not be wise for them as elders to neglect the Word and prayer to attend to such problems. On their suggestion the ecclesia elected seven brethren — wise men of good reputation — well suited to serve the ecclesia. The seven were presented to the apostles so that they could receive the Holy Spirit to guide them in their work. This organisation freed the apostles for preaching work, and the ecclesia continued to grow. Even many priests were converted to the faith.

 

STEPHEN, A MAN FULL OF FAITH (verses 8-14).

One of the seven elected brethren was Stephen, a mighty man in faith and courage, who did great wonders and miracles among the people-Although he was a serving brother, we shall see what an amazing grasp of the Scriptures he had, as well as the ability to expound them powerfully-Having a Greek name we can presume that Stephen was a Greek-speaking Jew who often preached the gospel to his countrymen and other foreign Jews! The Law of Moses as they saw it, placed the emphasis on the Nation, the Land, the Temple and the Sacrificial Code through the Mosaic High Priest. But Stephen taught that the crucified Jesus, now resurrected and sitting at God's right hand, was the only High Priest. On the basis of being forgiven by, baptism into his Name, people could now come near to God through him. The Law of Moses was finished and a new covenant has been established — a better one, in that it offered eternal life to Jew and Gentle.

 

In desperation they hired men who falsely accused him of speaking blasphemy against Moses and God, just like they had tried to do against Jesus (see Luke 22:65). The hostile Jews continued to stir up the people, and also the leaders and scribes, who were still angered by the growth of the ecclesia. They brought Stephen before the Sanhedrin with the charge “He ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. This was partly true. Jesus had taught that the Temple and the city would be destroyed (see the parables of Matt. 22:7; 24:2,15) and that the customs of the Law would be changed. But Stephen did not speak blasphemous words against God nor against Moses and the law.

 

STEPHEN'S DEFENCE (Acts 6:15-7:50).

As everyone turned to hear Stephen's answers to this accusation they saw his face aglow like the face of an angel. This had been seen once before in Moses, whom they claimed Stephen was blaspheming.

 

His speech is an absolute masterpiece. He showed by reference to many characters in Israel's history that the Land, Nation, and empire, were relatively unimportant to God. The scope of His action was not limited by the Law or the Temple, nor confined to His people alone. He was and always has been more interested the spirit which was seen in the great men of Israel, but not the Jews of Stephen's day. Let us look at the examples Stephen uses:

 

1. The Jews seemed to feel that living in the Temple was the ultimate, but the promise to Abraham was 430 years before the Law and also in a Gentile idol-worshipping land. He lived as a stranger in a strange land: he dwelt in the land but did not inherit it: he was promised it on the principle of faith. The Law was not necessary for his salvation, it was his faith, not Law, that they should imitate.

 

2. Joseph (verses 9-16).

He was rejected by his brothers, the fathers of Israel! Israel was repeating history in rejecting Jesus. They sold Joseph into a strange land. There in Egypt "God was with him" and made him great. Jacob, the great father of Israel, had to be taken to Egypt because of a famine in the Promised Land. In Egypt God's people "grew and multiplied" by God's grace, and the patriarchs died there, and were buried not in Israel but in Shechem, a hated Samaritan town.

 

3. Moses (verses 20-40).

This great man was brought up in the palace of the Pharaoh of Egypt. But it was in another Gentile land, Midian, that his family was born. In the wilderness of Mt. Sinai in Arabia God appeared in the bush to Moses to show him His glory, tell him His Name and His future purpose with Israel. This place, in a Gentile land, was "holy ground".

 

Moses revealed for God signs and wonders to the people in:—

1) Egypt; 2) the Red Sea; 3) the Wilderness; but never in Israel. It was Moses who prophesied to the "ecclesia in the wilderness" (v. 38) about the prophet like him who would come to them with God's words (Deut. 18:15-19). Jesus was that prophet (see Acts 3:22, 23). Just as the Jews in Moses' day refused to obey him, and made a golden calf, so the Jews in Stephen's day had not acknowledged Jesus as Messiah and Deliverer, but crucified him.

 

4. Israel's History (verses 41-43).

Israel throughout its history had not proved itself worthy of its leaders, but had continually worshipped strange gods. They defiled God's holy Name and He allowed them to be taken into captivity by cruel nations.

 

5. The Varied Dwelling-places of God (verses 44-50).

Israel had not always worshipped in a Temple at Jerusalem. God's first dwelling-place in Israel was a tent or tabernacle in the wilderness, but it was built from Divine plans and specifications (unlike the one of Stephen's day built by Herod). This was brought into Israel by Joshua and used until Solomon's time. David, the man after God's own heart, was not allowed to build a Temple. He had found favour with God without a temple. Even though Solomon built God a house, he admitted that "the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands," and soon after Solomon's time the kingdom began to decline because they would not let God dwell in their hearts.

 

MAIN POINTS OF STEPHEN'S SPEECH.

1. Abraham was called in Babylon.

2. Joseph, the deliverer of Israel, was rejected by his brethren.

3. The nation prospered in Egypt.

4. God raised up another deliverer, Moses, whom they rejected.

5. God dwelt in a Tabernacle in the Wilderness, where he also gave The Law.

6. David found favour with God without a Temple.

7. Solomon built a Temple but acknowledged that God did not live there.

 

STEPHEN CONDEMNS THE JEWS (verses 51-53).

Throughout Stephen's speech we can see thinly veiled references to Jesus, who like Joseph and Moses was rejected by his brethren; his message was rejected just as the prophets in the past had been ignored and scorned. The Jews in Stephen's day were exactly the same as their ancestors, "stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears". Despite having received the Law through angels, their fathers had killed God's prophets, and these men had not kept the Law in its spirit but killed the one who fulfilled it.

 

THE MURDER OF STEPHEN (verses 54-60).

Blazing with anger and fury, the Sanhedrin rose up with one thought in mind: Stephen must die! But his witness had pleased the Father and he was now granted a vision of the glory of God, and Jesus standing at His right hand. The Sanhedrin would not listen any more, but "stopping their ears" they ran at him in rage and dragging him outside the city, stoned him to death. Can we imagine the agony of that cruel death which Stephen suffered, the first of many to be martyred for their Lord?

 

As Jesus was dying he had said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" but Stephen could not say that. He said, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." They had had plenty of opportunity to hear men like Stephen and to change their ways, but they had "stopped their ears". Therefore, as Stephen had rightly said, Jesus was standing at God's right hand waiting to judge his enemies.

 

A young man named Saul was a key figure in Stephen's death (guard­ing the clothes of the witnesses as they flung their stones), "consenting unto his death" (ch. 8:1). However, Stephen's speech and death must have played upon his mind, and prepared him for the time when he was to become the great apostle Paul.

 

Stephen did not die in vain, but "committed his cause to Him who judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:23). He died not flinching from his responsibility to preach the gospel of life.

 

LESSONS FOR US:

Stephen's speech shows that God's desire is that all who worship Him should do so in spirit and truth. The place and means are secondary. Stephen fearlessly defended the Truth of God's dealings with His servants. God called and separated men of faith, approved them and had teen worshipped acceptably by them when they were removed from the land of Israel, the Temple or the Law of Moses. These were men and women of humble and contrite characters, honouring God's Word and not reading into it the traditions of men. We must hear God's words, not "stopping our ears" or opposing those who fearlessly proclaim the truth. Our work is never in vain in the Lord, even if we receive ridicule and harsh treatment. Though Stephen died he will soon live again, to meet face to face with his Lord and with Paul, who after Stephen's death became a great ambassador for Christ throughout the world. We today have their words as a precious heritage — let us act upon them!

 

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield)--Vol. 13, pp. 35-52

"Ambassadors for Christ" (Study Notes)—pp. 21-35

 

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. How did the early ecclesia solve the problem of the charge of neglect of the Grecian widows?

2. Compare the arrest and trial of Stephen to that of the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Summarise the main arguments in Stephen's defence.

4. Why did the Jews murder Stephen?

 

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. What were the charges -which the Jews laid against Stephen, and briefly comment on how they were answered?

2. Outline the major examples which Stephen used in his speech to show that God wants believers to worship Him in spirit and truth rather than in a particular place and manner.