A STEADFAST CHURCH: STEPHEN'S EXECUTION
ACTS 7:54 – ACTS 8:4
POINT ONE: STEPHEN’S EXECUTION:
PSALM 116:15: THE DEATH OF ONE THAT BELONGS TO THE LORD IS PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT.
STEPHEN REALIZED THAT HE WAS SOON TO DIE, BUT HE HAD A CALMNESS AND PEACE AROUND HIM THAT ONLY GOD CAN GIVE. HE TRULY UNDERSTOOD WHAT PAUL WOULD LATER WRITE TO THE CORINTHIANS:
2 CORINTHIANS: 5:1-3, 5-6, 8-10:
WE KNOW THAT OUR BODY—THE TENT WE LIVE IN HERE ON EARTH— WILL BE DESTROYED. BUT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, GOD WILL HAVE A HOUSE FOR US. IT WILL NOT BE A HOUSE MADE BY HUMAN HANDS; INSTEAD, IT WILL BE A HOME IN HEAVEN THAT WILL LAST FOREVER. 2 BUT NOW WE GROAN IN THIS TENT. WE WANT GOD TO GIVE US OUR HEAVENLY HOME, 3 BECAUSE IT WILL CLOTHE US SO WE WILL NOT BE NAKED. 5 THIS IS WHAT GOD MADE US FOR, AND HE HAS GIVEN US THE SPIRIT TO BE A GUARANTEE FOR THIS NEW LIFE. 6 SO WE ALWAYS HAVE COURAGE. WE KNOW THAT WHILE WE LIVE IN THIS BODY, WE ARE AWAY FROM THE LORD.. 8 SO I SAY THAT WE HAVE COURAGE. WE REALLY WANT TO BE AWAY FROM THIS BODY AND BE AT HOME WITH THE LORD. 9 OUR ONLY GOAL IS TO PLEASE GOD WHETHER WE LIVE HERE OR THERE, 10 BECAUSE WE MUST ALL STAND BEFORE CHRIST TO BE JUDGED. EACH OF US WILL RECEIVE WHAT WE SHOULD GET—GOOD OR BAD—FOR THE THINGS WE DID IN THE EARTHLY BODY.
THERE WAS NOTHING MORE TO BE SAID, NO FURTHER DEFENCE TO BE GIVEN. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE BLOOD-THIRSTY SANHEDRIN AND THE CALM AND PEACEFUL STEPHEN SPEAKS VOLUMES AS TO HIS INNOCENCE, BUT SO DOES THE NEXT OCCURANCE.
ACTS 7:55-56:
55 BUT STEPHEN WAS FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE LOOKED UP TO HEAVEN AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD AND JESUS STANDING AT GOD’S RIGHT SIDE. 56 HE SAID, “LOOK! I SEE HEAVEN OPEN AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING AT GOD’S RIGHT SIDE.”
ACCORDING TO CUSTOM, A PRISONER WAS GIVEN A CHANCE TO CONFESS AND ASK FORGIVENESS FOR HIS CRIME ON THE WAY TO THE EXECUTION SITE. THEY CAN THEN DIE WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE AND GAIN ACCEPTANCE INTO THE WORLD TO COME.
STEPHEN’S WORDS THOUGH WERE NOT AN ADMISSION OF GUILT, BUT A DECLARATION OF INNOCENSE FROM GOD.
THE VISION IS UNIQUE FOR TWO REASONS:
1. OUTSIDE THE GOSPELS, ONLY IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION AND HERE IS THE TITLE “SON OF MAN” USED. STEPHEN IS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, OTHER THAN JESUS, TO USE IT.
IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT POINTS US BACK TO THE ONE IN WHOM STEPHEN PUTS HIS HOPE. STEPHEN POINTS US BACK TO THE INCARNATION, HIS SAVING FAIATH AND RESURRECTION, TO HIS HEAVENLY EXALTATION, UNIVERSAL DOMINION, AND HIS GLORIOUS FUTURE REIGN.
SOMETIMES, IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS, WE NEED TO BE POINTED BACK TO THE ONE THAT IS CONSTANT, AND WON’T LET US DOWN.
ILLUSTRATE: OLD MAN IN DEATH HOLDING GOD’S HAND.
2. NOTE THE FACT THAT JESUS IS “STANDING” AND NOT SITTING AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND. IT IS MOST COMMON TO PICTURE JESUS “SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. WE SPEAK OF THIS BECAUSE THE WORK OF SALVATION ON HIS PART IS COMPLETE.
HERE THOUGH HE IS STANDING, SO WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS GESTURE? I BELIEVE HE IS STANDING TO WELCOME THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR IN HONOR. I BELIEVE HE IS STANDING IN DEFENCE OF STEPHEN BEFORE THE FATHER AS STEPHEN STOOD IN DEFENCE FOR JESUS BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN AND THE WORLD.
MATTHEW 18:18-20:
“I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THE THINGS YOU DON’T ALLOW ON EARTH WILL BE THE THINGS GOD DOES NOT ALLOW. AND THE THINGS YOU ALLOW ON EARTH WILL BE THE THINGS THAT GOD ALLOWS.19 “ALSO, I TELL YOU THAT IF TWO OF YOU ON EARTH AGREE ABOUT SOMETHING AND PRAY FOR IT, IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU BY MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. 20 THIS IS TRUE BECAUSE IF TWO OR THREE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER IN MY NAME, I AM THERE WITH THEM.”
WHILE IT IS NOT STATED IN THE PASSAGE, I BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE SCORES OF FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS HOLDING STEPHEN BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD IN PRAYER, AND THAT PART OF HIS COURAGE CAME AS A RESULT OF THEIR PRAYERS.
JESUS WAS POISED TO WELCOME STEPHEN INTO GLORY AND UTTER THE WORDS WE SO DESPERATELY WANT TO HEAR, “WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.”
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE HOMEGOING OF A SAINT IS SO REVERENTIAL, AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD SO OVERWEALMING, THAT WE KNOW WE ARE IN A VERY HOLY PLACE, AND NEED NOT SPOIL IT WITH WORDS.
SUCH WAS THE CASE WITH STEPHEN. THE PRAYER THAT HE OFFERED WAS A CHILD’S PRAYER. JEWISH CHILDREN WERE TAUGHT THIS PRAYER AND SAID IT AT BEDTIME EACH DAY TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAD SINNED AGAINST THEM. STEPHEN PRAYED THIS PRAYER AND THEN WENT TO SLEEP IN DEATH.
SLEEP IS A COMMON TERM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT USED TO DESCRIBE THE DEATH OF A CHRISTIAN. IT REMINDS US THAT FOR THE CHRISTIAN DEATH IS A TEMPORARY STATE. OUR BODY IS IN THE GRAVE BUT OUR SPRITI IS PRESENT WITH JESUS AND THEY WILL BE REUNITED FOR ETERNITY AT THE TIME OF THE RAPTURE.
THE GREAT POET ALFRED LORD TENNYSON WROTE OF STEPHEN:
HE HEALED NO RIVITING TONES
NOR SOLD HIS HEART TO IDLE MOONS
THOUGH CURSED AND SCORNED AND BRUISED WITH STONES
BUT LOOKING UPWARD, FULL OF GRACE
HE PRAYED, AND FROM A HAPPY PLACE
GOD’S GLORY SMOTE HIM IN THE FACE.
POINT TWO: STEPHEN’S BURIAL:
STEPHEN WAS LOVED DEEPLY BY HIS JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE JERUSALEM CHURCH. THEY MOURNED FOR THEIR FALLEN BROTHER WITH BROKEN HEARTS.
DEVOUT MEN, SOME HEBRAIC CHRISTIAN JEWS, OTHERS NON-CHRISTIAN JEWS, BURIED STEPHEN AND PUBLICLY MOURNED HIM. THIS WAS A COURAGEOUS WITNESS AT A TIME WHEN THE CHURCH WAS UNDER PERSECUTION.
IT WAS ALSO A WITNESS TO HIS INNOCENSE FOR JEWISH CUSTOM FORBADE PUBLIC MOURNING OF ANYONE EXECUTED FOR BLASPHEMY.
POINT THREE: PERSECUTION:
TWO THINGS DIRECTLY RESULTED FROM STEPHEN’S MARTYRDOM:
1. THE CHRISTIANS IN JERUSALEM WERE PERSECUTED AND SCATTERED.
2. SAUL CAME FORTH AS THE PRIME PERSECUTOR OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
THIS IS THE FIRST PASSAGE IN ACTS WHERE WE ENCOUNTER THE WORD “PERSECUTION.” IT IS DEFINED AS
“HARASSING SOMEBODY IN ORDER TO PERSUADE SOMEONE, TO GIVE UP HIS OR HER RELIGION, OR SIMPLY TO ATTACK SOMEONE FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS.”
IT EMCOMPASSES A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FROM RIDICULE TO SOCIAL OSTRACISM TO OCCASIONAL BEATINGS, TO CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY TO IMPRISONMENT AND EXECUTION.
AS IN THIS CASE THE RELIGIOUS REASONS FOR THE PERSECUTION CAN BE HELD BY EITHER THE RECIPIENT OR THE INITIATOR OF THE PERSECUTION.
IT IS FELT THAT THE PERSECUTION WAS TARGETED AGAINST THE HELLENISTIC OR GREEK-SPEAKING JEWS. YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT THESE WERE THE JEWS WHO FELT THAT THEIR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT FROM ISRAEL AND HELD TO GREEK CUSTOMS AND LANGUAGE. THEY WERE THOUGHT TO BE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS. IT MAY ALSO EXPLAIN WHY THE HEBRAIC CHRISTIAN JEWS AND THE APOSTLES WERE ALLOWED TO STAY IN JERUSALEM AND DEAL WITH THE BURIAL OF STEPHEN.
THIS PARTICULAR PERSECUTION FOUND IT’S FOCUS IN ONE DESTRUCTIVE PERSONALITY, SAUL OF TARSUS. SAUL WANTED TO “DESTROY” THE CHURCH, NOT JUST PERSECUTE IT.
PSALM 80:13: LIKE WILD PIGS THEY WALK OVER US; LIKE WILD ANIMALS THEY FEED ON US.
THE WORD PICTURE THIS VERSE PAINTS IS QUITE VIVID. THE PICTURE IS THAT OF A WILD ANIMAL MANGLING IT’S PREY. SAUL WAS NOT SOME RELIGIOUS ADMINISTRATOR SEATED AT A DESK SENDING OTHERS TO DO HIS DIRTY WORK. HE WAS THE CUSTODIAN OF THE CLOAKS AT STEPHEN’S EXECUTION. HE LED THE CHARGE IN THE STREETS, HOUSE TO HOUSE, MEN AND WOMEN. HE DID NOT JUST ARREST CHRISTIANS, HE DRAGGED THEM OFF.
HE PERSECUTED MEN AND WOMEN UNTO DEATH. SAUL HAD BELIEVERS IMPRISONED AND BEATEN. IF THEY RENOUNCED THEIR FAITH, THEY WERE SET FREE, BUT IF THEY WOULD NOT RECANT THEY WOULD BE KILLED.
ACTS 26:9-11:
“I, TOO, THOUGHT I OUGHT TO DO MANY THINGS AGAINST JESUS FROM NAZARETH. 10 AND THAT IS WHAT I DID IN JERUSALEM. THE LEADING PRIESTS GAVE ME THE POWER TO PUT MANY OF GOD’S PEOPLE IN JAIL, AND WHEN THEY WERE BEING KILLED, I AGREED IT WAS A GOOD THING. 11 IN EVERY SYNAGOGUE, I OFTEN PUNISHED THEM AND TRIED TO MAKE THEM SPEAK AGAINST JESUS. I WAS SO ANGRY AGAINST THEM I EVEN WENT TO OTHER CITIES TO FIND THEM AND PUNISH THEM.
POINT FOUR: THE RESULTS OF THE PERSECUTION:
THE GREAT WRITER VICTOR HUGO WROTE:
“THERE IS ONE THING STRONGER THAN ALL THE ARMIES IN THE WORLD, AND THAT IS AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME.”
THE TIME HAD COME FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE CHURCH TO SAMARIA AND JUDEA, AND GOD WAS GOING TO USE THE FLEEING HELLENISTIC CHRISTIAN JEWS TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS.
GENESIS 50:20: YOU MEANT TO HURT ME, BUT GOD TURNED YOUR EVIL INTO GOOD TO SAVE THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE, WHICH IS BEING DONE.
IT WAS THE INTENT OF SAUL AND THE COUNCIL TO STAMP OUT THE CHURCH. SAUL ACTUALLY THOUGHT HE WAS SERVING GOD THROUGH THE PERSECUTION, SO HE DID IT WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE.
GALATIANS 1:13-14:
13 YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT MY PAST LIFE IN THE JEWISH RELIGION. I ATTACKED THE CHURCH OF GOD AND TRIED TO DESTROY IT. 14 I WAS BECOMING A LEADER IN THE JEWISH RELIGION, DOING BETTER THAN MOST OTHER JEWS OF MY AGE. I TRIED HARDER THAN ANYONE ELSE TO FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS HANDED DOWN BY OUR ANCESTORS.
LUKE IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE GREAT VICTORY GOD WILL WIN THROUGH THE CONVERSION AND SUBSEQUENT MISSIONARY SERVICE OF PAUL. HERE WE SEE THE FULFILLMENT OF JESUS STATEMENT AT HIS ASCENSION.
ACTS 1:8: 8 BUT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO YOU, YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER. YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES—IN JERUSALEM, IN ALL OF JUDEA, IN SAMARIA, AND IN EVERY PART OF THE WORLD.”
WITH THE PERSECUTION HELLENISTIC CHRISTIAN JEWS SCATTERED EVERYWHERE, AND AS THEY DID THEY SHARED CHRIST, NOT REFUGEES. THE DISPERSION THROUGH PERSECUTION CREATES A BAND OF MISSIONARIES SPREADING THE WORD OF GOD LIKE SEED IN THE WIND.
CONCLUSION:
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT CONCLUSIONS THAT WE CAN DRAW FROM THIS PASSAGE.
1. IF THE CHURCH IS GROWN OF THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS, THEN PERSECUTION IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD EXPECT, NOT WELCOMED, BUT EXPECTED. BUT PERSECUTIONOF THE CHURCH CAN COME IN VARIOUS WAYS:
CONSIDER THE FACES OF PERSECUTION IN SOME COUNTRIES:
THESE ARE THE FACES OF SOME OF THE 21 COPTIC CHRISTIANS WHO WERE MARTYRED RECENTLY. SOME WERE MAKING THEIR LAST PRAYERS AS THE BLADE CAME TO THEIR NECK “O MY LORD JESUS”.
COPTIC CHRISTIANS ARE EGYPTIAN BELIEVERS AND AMONG THE MOST DEVOUTE IN THE WORLD. THE CHURCH WAS FOUNDED IN THE FIRST CENTURY BY JOHN MARK THE APOSTLE.
THESE MEN WERE MURDERED AND THE CAPTION BY ISIS STATED “THESE INSISTED TO REMAIN IN UNBELIEF.” IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WERE GIVEN THE OPTION TO CONVERT OR DIE AND EVERYONE OF THEM REFUSED, EVEN UNTO DEATH.
HERE’S THE THING THAT IS HARD TO BELIEVE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT SAUL WAS DOING TO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH HERE IN ACTS. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY CHRISTIANS LOST THEIR LIVES AS A RESULT OF THIS MAN.
NOTICE THAT THE CHURCH ACTUALLY GREW AS A RESULT OF THE PERSECUTION. THIS MEANS THAT THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE EAST COULD GROW AS A RESULT OF THE PERSECUTION OF ISIS ON ITS PEOPLE.
PERSECUTION IN NORTH AMERICA COMES IN THE FORM OF POLITICAL OPPRESSION. WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE CHRISTIAN FREEDOMS LIMITED AS OUR SOCIETY BECOMES MORE PLURALISTIC.
THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES IS PASSING A BILL THAT IS REFERRED TO AS “OBAMA YOUTH BILL.” THIS BILL WILL PUT MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE STREETS OF AMERICA TO ACT AS AGENTS FOR OBAMA. YET, IN THE LEGAL LANGUAGE OF THE BILL THERE ARE MANY PASSAGES WHICH FORBID ANY YOUNG MAN OR WOMAN WHO IS A PRACTICING CHRISTIAN AND ATTENDS CHURCH, VOLUNTEERS FOR CHURCH MINISTRIES, ATTENDS OR LEADS WORSHIP SERVICES AND BIBLE STUDIES OR SHARES HIS OR HER FAITH IN CHRIST FROM BEING PART OF THIS “OBAMA YOUTH” OR NATIONAL SERVICE CORPS.
THE BILL WOULD FORBID ANY STUDENT IN THE BRIGADE TO PARTICIPATE IN “ENGAGING IN RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, CONDUCTING WORSHIP SERVICES, PROVIDING INSTRUCTION AS PART OF A PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES MANDATORY RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OR WORSHIP, CONSTRUCTING OR OPERATING FACILITIES DEVOTED TO RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OR WORSHIP, MAINTAINING FACILITIES PRIMARILY OR INHERENTLY DEVOTED TO RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OR WORSHIP, OR ENGAGING IN ANY FORM OF RELIGIOUS PROSELYTIZATION.” THAT MEANS NO CHURCH ATTENDANCE OR SHARING YOUR FAITH.
2. THIS PASSAGE EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER FOR THE SAFETY OF MISSIONARIES, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH RISK AREAS OF SERVICE. IF POSSIBLE KNOW THEIR NAMES AND THEIR FAMILIES, IF NOT PRAY FOR THE AREA.
3. WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE HOW FLEETING LIFE IS. WHEN THE CHURCH APPOINTED STEPHEN AS A DEACON, HE MUST HAVE ANTICIPATED MANY YEARS EVEN DECADES OF SERVICE. HOW QUICKLY THINGS CAN CHANGE.
I REMEMBER WATCHING POPE JOHN-PAUL I TAKE OFFICE. HE WAS RELATIVELY YOUNG, AND PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING GOOD THINGS FROM HIM BASED ON THE NAME HE CHOOSE. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HE WOULD DIE WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO OF TAKING HIS OFFICE.
EVERY DAY IS A GIFT FROM GOD AND SHOULD BE USED AND ENJOYED AS SUCH.
4. THIS PASSAGE CALLS US TO BE READY FOR DEATH AT ANY TIME. NO DEATH IS PLEASANT AND THERE ARE FEW GOOD WAYS TO DIE.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO BE READY TO MEET THE LORD SHOULD HE CALL FOR YOU.
THE COURTS OF OUR LAND HAVE JUST BROUGHT FORTH A RULING, FORCING THE GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP A POLICY ON ASSISTED SUICIDE WITHIN A YEAR. WE ARE LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN SAY ON THE ISSUE AS WE DO NOT HAVE THE NEW LEGISLATION AS YET, BUT ON WHAT I UNDERSTAND ON THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION I FEEL WE HAVE TO OPPOSE IT.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT I CAN REALLY SYMPATHIZE WITH VICTIMS OF DISEASE, AND THE WAY DISEASE CAN IMPRISON A PERSON. I ALSO WANT TO LIMIT MY REMARKS TO THE RECENT RULING, AND NOT SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF SUICIDE IN GENERAL. WE’VE ALL BEEN TOUCHED BY SUICIDE, AND THE PAIN IT CAUSES, AND I DO NOT WANT TO ADD FURTHER PAIN TO THAT.
1. I STAND AGAINST IT BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF IT, ARE TRYING TO BYPASS THE PROCESS OF DYING, AND ENTER DIRECTLY INTO THE STATE OF DEATH. MY ISSUE IS THAT THEY MAY NOT BE READY FOR THE LIFE TO COME AFTER DEATH. HAVE THEY CONSIDERED THE FACT THAT IF A PERSON IS NOT A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN, AND DIE IN THAT STATE, THAT THEY WILL BE FOREVER LOST?
2. ASSISTED SUICIDE ESTABLISHES THE WORTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL AS TERMINATING AT THE POINT OF SICKNESS, NOT AT THE POINT OF DEATH. IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE WORTHWHILE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY, OUR FAMILIES AND OURSELVES, WHILE DEALING WITH THE DYING PROCESS. IT MAY PROVIDE US WITH THE VALUABLE TIME WE NEED TO RECONCILE WITH PEOPLE.
3. THE DECISION REACHED BY THE SUPREME COURT IS TOO BROAD IN ITS MEANING. IT ALLOWS FOR ASSISTED DEATH IN CASES THAT COULD BE ONLY TEMPORAL IN NATURE, SUCH AS DEPRESSION, OR CONDITIONS THAT COULD BE TOTALLY REVERSED. AGAIN I SITE DEPRESSION AS AN EXAMPLE.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS A SOVEREIGN PLAN FOR OUR LIVES, AND HE IS CONSTANTLY UNFOLDING THAT PLAN. GOD’S PLAN MAY NOT ALWAYS BE EASY, BUT HE DOES PROMISE US TO SEE US THROUGH IT.
HIS PURPOSE MAY INCLUDE CONSTANT PAIN. IT MAY INCLUDE BOUTS WITH CANCER AND HEART TROUBLE. GOD DOESN’T PROMISE US AN EASY ROAD, ONLY A VICTORIOUS ONE, WHERE AT THE END OF IT WE CAN HEAR AS STEPHEN NO DOUBT DID, “WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.”
