A Man Named Stephen

49 Heaven [is] My throne, and earth the footstool for My feet. What [kind of] house can you build for Me, says the Lord, or what is the place in which I can rest?

50 Was it not My hand that made all these things?

Ray Stedman comments on this portion, where Stephen explains to his angry crowd, that God does not dwell in tents or temples made by man or human hands, but in the hearts of believers who will accept Him and follow Him:

‘His argument is that God himself, through the prophet Isaiah, had predicted that the temple would not always be an adequate place to worship God. In fact, no building ever will be. God is bigger than buildings. God is the One who made all things, who makes the material from which a building is made, and who makes the men who put that building together. God has not designed that he should be worshipped in a building made with hands. Isaiah said that, not Stephen. And so he successfully answers this charge. It is an important point he makes. I have always been disturbed by the widespread teaching that a building can be called the house of God’###

The crowd covered their ears (c 7:57) which shows that they were hearing the truth and the Holy Spirit was busy convicting them, but they chose not to repent or receive the truth of the gospel.

Stephen’s prayer before his death (c 7:40) is reminiscent of that of Jesus at His crucifixion. It is interesting to note that just like Jesus, he also forgave those who killed him:

Luke 23:34 NIV

4 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Jesus warned that persecution, for the Word’s sake, will come. Stephen experienced it first hand, the first martyr for the gospel:

John 16:2 NIV

2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.

Illustration: -

Closing:

The result of Stephens’ death by the hand of Paul (Saul) was that the gospel was spread throughout the world. Was Paul at all affected by the death of Stephen at his very own hands? I am very sure he was convicted even though he kept on persecuting the church of Jesus. Standing and watching someone die with total peace and a smile, like Stephen did, must have baffled Paul to no end. He could not explain this strange phenomenon. Stephen’s death caused the Christians to be driven out of Jerusalem and they preached the gospel wherever they went, causing revival. Not everyone has been called to be a martyr for the gospel, but we have all been called, like Stephen to preach the good news of the gospel, wherever we go in this world. For many this may be your neighbor, family or even another country. The question that Jesus is asking of each of His disciples today is this: ‘Are you willing to die for me and the gospel, like I died for you?’

What is your commitment to the gospel and to Jesus?

Amen

Let’s pray

* This article is based on a talk given by Eddie Arthur at Above Bar Church, Southampton, on Sunday 26th November 2006. http://www.facingthechallenge.org/acts6.php