Sunday School Lesson 10-02-05

LESSON FIVE

STEPHEN

ACTS 6:8-15; 7:53-60

KEY VERSES: “And Stephen, full of FAITH and POWER, did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8).

As we begin our study of the “WITNESS” of the apostles as the gospel spread from Jerusalem to Judea, we discover at the beginning of our text that there are already problems taking root in the early church. Chapter 6:1 verbalizes the foundation of the conflict between different groups in the church. First, let me explain that the Hebrews were Christians from a more traditional form of Judaism. It is possible that they thought that the Hellenistic Jews were, more or less, too easily led to abandon their religious Jewish practices. The Hellenistic Jews, on the other hand, had adopted the Greek culture. They were Christians from “Greek-speaking Diaspora Judaism.” In other words, they were “devoutly religious men who had returned to Jerusalem to live their last days in the Holy City with its Holy temple.” These were the Jews who had been scattered in various directions among the Gentiles after the Babylonian captivity.

The apostles, realizing that their concern was a legitimate complaint, knew that it was impossible for them to stop what they were doing to take care of the matter. Therefore, to resolve this conflict, THE HOLY SPIRIT directed Peter to instruct them to “seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WISDOM, whom we may appoint over this business” (v.3). But, Peter further emphasized the fact that they had to carry out their MISSION of giving themselves “continually to PRAYER and to the MINISTRY OF THE WORD” (v.4).

Being pleased with this decision, the people proceeded to choose seven men from among themselves, one of which was “Stephen, a man FULL OF FAITH AND THE HOLY SPIRIT” (v.5). Then, these men were “set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them” (v.6).

1. CHOOSING THE RIGHT LEADER (Acts 6:8)

As we fore-stated, it had become necessary for the apostles to address the Hellenistic, Jews who had adopted the Greek culture, concerns about their widows being “neglected in the daily distribution” (6:1). And to resolve this conflict, the apostles were led by THE HOLY SPIRIT to instruct the Hellenists to choose one from among themselves to carry out these duties; hence, the first ‘democratic election’ in the early church. The only sure way of guaranteeing that the issues and concerns of the people being led are met, is to allow them to choose their own leader, who has the same concerns as those being led.

Thus, as a result, this conflict between the Hebrews and the Hellenists ended in the appointment of seven men, all Hellenists, to assume the leadership role among the Hellenistic Christians. These men would have significant authority bestowed upon them by the apostles, the same as their own POWER and AUTHORITY, after being chosen by the people through the ‘popular vote.’ Therefore, these men had to have certain special characteristics other than just being the ‘popular choice.’ These men would perform the ‘special service’ of being designated with the responsibility of daily caring for the poor. This would allow the apostles to carry out their MISSION, which they explained, “It is not desirable that we should leave THE WORD OF GOD and serve tables” (v.2).

While the other six men were simply named in the text, Stephen was exceptionally described as “ a man FULL OF FAITH and THE HOLY SPIRIT” (v.5). And, this was said of Stephen even before the apostles “prayed...(and) laid hands on them” (v.6). Thus, it is not surprising that our study begins with “Stephen, FULL OF FAITH AND POWER (THE HOLY SPIRIT),” doing “great wonders and signs among the people” (v.8).

When we choose our ‘leaders,’ especially in the church, we should use Stephen as a ‘model of character’ one should possess. Although the leaders are chosen by ‘popular vote,’ it should by no means be a ‘popularity contest.’ THE HOLY SPIRIT should lead us to choose leaders who are “of good reputation, FULL OF THE HOLY and WISDOM” (v.3). Foe, if we choose this kind of leader, “FULL OF FAITH AND POWER (THE HOLY SPIRIT),” we can expect to see them do “great wonders and signs among the people” (v.8).

2. STANDING IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY (vv.9-15)

The events that take place in these verses should demonstrate why church leaders need to be “FULL OF FAITH AND POWER.” For as soon as “Stephen, full of faith and power did wonders and signs among the people,” as Satan would have it, “there arose some...disputing with Stephen” (v.9). Even though “they were not able to resist the WISDOM and THE SPIRIT BY WHICH HE SPOKE,” the text says, “they secretly induced men to say, ‘we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and GOD’” (vv.10-11). And, as would be expected, this angered and “stirred up the people...and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council” (v.12).

These next few verses, 3-5, evoke a sense of ‘nostalgia’ or deja vu, if you will. For, what takes place before the council with Stephen is eerily similar to what our LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF experience before the Sanhedrin, in Mark’s Gospel, Chapter 14:53-65, when they brought “false witnesses” against JESUS, “but there was no agreement among the witnesses.”

Here in this lesson, verse 13 says, “They also set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.” Thus, beginning with JESUS, “THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” to Peter and John, and now Stephen, we find that one will be persecuted, and even false accused, for the sake of the spreading of the Gospel. But, also by their examples they set, one should find it easier to stand firm in the face of adversity and even “false witnesses.”

If we stand “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the works of the LORD,” then all of those around, including our adversaries, would have no choice but to see THE HOLY SPIRIT working through us, and say, as they did of Stephen, “looking steadfastly at him, (they) saw his face as the face of an angel” (v.15).

3. LOOKING IN THE FACE OF JESUS (7:53-60)

Before we proceed into the examination of the second part of our text, we would be remiss if we did not take, at least, take a concise look at the chain of events that led to the scenario in our final text verses.

To begin, we must do a reversal, and look at the contrast to the comparison we made between JESUS, Peter and john, and Stephen in the similar situations, before the Sanhedrin Council. JESUS, we learned in Mark 4:ff, stood “silent” in the face of HIS “false accusers;” Peter responded with a ‘mini sermon or sermonette,’ if you will, when he spoke before the council, and he was considered “BOLD.” However, according to Chapter 7:1-53, Stephen has to be considered the “BOLDEST,” because he delivered a full fledged, no holds barred, cut to the core ‘sermon’ in the face of his adversaries.

Stephen “preached” of GOD’S call of Abraham to “get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I (GOD) will show you” (v.3). He “preached” about Abraham’s arrival and dwelling in Haran, a land that “even when Abraham had no child, HE (GOD) promised to give to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him” (v.5). He “preached” of GOD’S covenant of Circumcision given to Abraham, who beget Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac beget Jacob, and Jacob beget the twelve Patriarchs” (v.8).

Stephen “preached” about the Patriarchs’ journey into Egypt and slavery, and of GOD’S eventual deliverance of Israel by Moses (vv.9-16). He also “preached of Israel’s rebellion against GOD, when, according to the scriptures, “they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands” (v.41).

Stephen “preached” about GOD’S true tabernacle (vv.44-50), and that “THE MOST HIGH does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is MY THRONE, and earth MY FOOTSTOOL” (vv.48-49). However, I believe that ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back,’ can be found in these next few verses leading into our text, verse 51-53, when Stephen closed his MESSAGE with, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist THE HOLY SPIRIT; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold THE COMING OF THE JUST ONE, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

The closing scene is what truly endears Stephen’s “FAITH AND POWER” to me personally. “When they (the council) heard these things (from Stephen) they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth” (v.54). I believe that this anger, gnashing of teeth, is a little bit more serious than their reaction to Peter in 5:33, when “they were furious and plotted to kill him.” I believe ‘furious’ would be putting it mildly. However, it is not their reaction, or state of mind and/or ‘spirit,’ that is of importance here. What is impressive and of great impact upon my SPIRIT is Stephen’s stand in the face of this impending adversity.

“But he, being FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GAZED INTO HEAVEN AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD, AND JESUS STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and THE SON OF MAN standing at the right hand of GOD!’” (vv.55-56). I believe that even in the face of adversity, Stephen was able to free himself from the limiting hold of this present world and LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE FACE OF JESUS!

This “BOLD” declaration was too much for Stephen’s adversaries to bear, so “they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. ... And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on GOD and saying, ‘LORD do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (vv.57-60). Finally, we see that “the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul” (v.58).

I can understand why many biblical scholar identify Stephen as a “martyr,” which is simply, by definition, one who submits to death rather than renounce their religion. In other words, one who dies, suffers, or sacrifices everything for a principle or cause. Stephen is the only individual I find in the scriptures whose demise in the face of his persecutors almost ‘mirrors’ that of our LORD AND SAVIOR.

While JESUS, at the point of death, looked into the HEAVENS INTO THE FACE OF HIS FATHER GOD, Stephen looked into heaven, into the face of the “GLORY OF GOD, AND JESUS STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD” (v.55). Isn’t it wonderful to know that even in the face of death, we can see past the grave and “Look into heaven” and SEE THE FACE OF JESUS “THE SON OF MAN STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD (THE FATHER)” (V.56).

I MUST REMIND US THAT THIS EXAMPLE THAT Stephen set for the BELIEVERS then and today can only be followed if one is, as Stephen was, “FULL OF FAITH AND POWER (THE HOLY SPIRIT).” Then we will also be able to follow the example set by JESUS as HE hung on the Cross, and say of our persecutors, “FATHER FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” And also, say as Stephen as “he knelt down and dried out with a loud voice, ‘LORD, do not charge them with this sin. And when he said this, HE FELL ASLEEP” (v.60).

THINK ABOUT IT!!!!

Spiritually Yours.

Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD