Good morning. Let’s turn to Acts 7 this morning and complete the chapter today.
• We heard of Stephen’s remarkable sermon last week, presented before the Sanhedrin Council.
• We are going to read today the tragic response of the Council towards Stephen.
• Tragic in the eyes of men, but precious and purposeful in the eyes of God.
• Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”
• Stephen has been ‘faithful to the end’. In God’s sovereign will, Stephen’s death would propel the Gospel beyond Jerusalem, and changed one man’s life.
Let’s us pray before we begin.
Dear Lord, we thank you again for this time. You have been good to us, gracious and kind to us these many weeks. We are blessed to be your people, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and given the hope of a new life with you. Thank you for your daily provision and protection.
We look to your Word with faith and a longing, to know you and to understand your will. You will not leave us in the dark about WHO you are and WHAT you can do.
Open our eyes that we may see glimpses of truth you have for us today. Bless our time this morning. This we pray in the precious Name of Jesus, AMEN.
Let’s read Acts 7:54-8:1. This is the aftermath of Stephen’s challenge to the Council not to remain stubborn and unrepentant.
54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
Stephen's message to the Council pushed the religious leaders over the edge.
• They were furious and in their rage, dragged Stephen out and stoned him to death.
• This marks the end of Stephen’s life but not the end of God’s work, which we shall see in the coming chapters.
Luke informed us that presiding over this stoning was a man named Saul.
• 7:58 “Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.” 8:1 Saul was giving his approval to his death.
• Some believe that Saul was probably the one who could have related the details of this trial. He was there listening.
• As the story unfolds, we know that this Saul of Tarsus would eventually met the risen Christ and become Paul the believer and fervent follower of Jesus.
• God uses events in our lives to set in motion the fulfilment of His purposes. We can trust Him even in disappointments and setbacks.
In his last hour, God gave Stephen the PERSPECTIVE that would be his assurance and comfort, and a PRAYER for his persecutors.
• We will consider these two points today – God giving Stephen the perspective that he needs and a prayer that they need.
THE PERSPECTIVE THAT HE NEEDS
Where is God when it hurts? He is right there.
• 7:55-56 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, he saw the glory of God the Father, and Jesus Christ standing beside Him. The triune God was present. How comforting.
Two things worth highlighting here. Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, as opposed to the common description of Him seated.
• In the Gospels and the writings of Paul, the risen Christ is always mentioned as being seated at the right hand of God.
• Mark 14:61-62 [at the trial] Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" 62"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
• Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
• Col 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
• Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [The same is mentioned in a few places in Hebrews]
Stephen saw Jesus standing, which could imply that Jesus was concerned and watching, and about to receive him home, knowing that Stephen will soon die.
• It could also be a posture of a witness. Stephen has been confessing Christ before men, and now Christ is confessing him before the Father.
• Jesus: “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” (Matt 10:32) The witness rightly stands.
Whatever the reason, this was unique. This vision would surely assures Stephen.
• He stands condemned by a human court but the heavenly court is in session with his Advocate Jesus standing by the Father vindicating him.
• “You did well. You did right. You did what you can. Now be ready to come home.”
The 2nd unique thing is the phrase the Son of Man. Stephen calls him the Son of Man.
• This was a title used only by Jesus to refer to Himself as the Messiah, which we read many times in the Gospels.
• This was the only time the ‘Son of Man’ was used NOT by Jesus, and the very last time it was used.
• We see Stephen taking the witness stand and testifying to his Jewish audience that Jesus is the Messiah, He is risen and standing now with the Father.
• If the religious leaders could not get it, maybe Saul would have remembered this.
The presence of Jesus the Messiah at God’s right hand meant that for all who have trusted Christ, there is now an access to God.
• The veil has been torn, our sin debt settled and we are reconciled with God.
• We are going home, through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus, to where our heavenly Father is. Stephen said it right, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
At his impending death, what Stephen saw wasn’t something dark but bright, not something bleak and depressing, but glorious and happy. That’s death for the Christians!
• The text says in 7:60 that “he fell asleep”. That’s the right words to use for believers in Christ. How peaceful that would be for us.
• Jesus has already removed the sting of sin and death on the cross, so that we may fall asleep in Christ and be ‘awaken’ in His presence.
We do not need to fear death. It is a glorious event, regardless of the circumstances we pass on. It is our entrance into His glorious presence.
• Paul wrote in 2 Cor 4:17-18 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Focus right, and we will live right.
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When Stephen said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (7:59) I expected this to be his last words and then the next line, “he fell down dead”.
• But that was not the case. 7:60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
• His very last breath was a prayer, and that was not for himself. It was a prayer that they need, his persecutors!
THE PRAYER THAT THEY NEED
This is the heart of Jesus. It’s similar to the prayer Jesus made on the cross:
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
• Death did not break Him; He broke the sting of death (cf. 1 Cor 15:56). And He prayed for their forgiveness.
• They thought they could destroy Jesus and all He meant, on the cross, but instead, the cross manifested the love and forgiveness of God in a greater way.
Notice the TWO contrasting cries here, in verse 57 and verse 60:
• 7:57 [ESV] But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.
• For Stephen to suggest that the crucified Jesus – a criminal and the cursed one – is standing in a position of authority at the right hand of God – is utterly blasphemous to them. No wonder they were outraged.
• 7:60 And [Stephen] 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.
We have two cries with loud voices. One is the outburst of rage, filled with hatred, determined to kill. The other is a cry of mercy, filled with love, determined to save.
• What an irony. We have two very passionate but opposite cries.
• Stephen’s solitary cry was a plea for mercy, asking God for forgive the sin of his persecutors.
• It looks like Stephen’s cry of love outweighs the leaders’ cry for death.
Was his prayer answered? We do not know about the leaders but at least for one man who was there, he did receive God’s forgiveness eventually.
• Saul of Tarsus, the man who presided over Stephen’s stoning, would experience God’s grace when he meets the risen Christ in Acts 9.
• The prayer was for him, in a sense. Stephen would not have known it. It might take some time, but the fruit of his prayer will come.
• We pray but we don’t always see the answer to our prayer, not immediately, and sometimes not even in our lifetime. God knows and we trust Him.
Stephen died, but with his death, the message of the forgiveness of God through Christ continues to spread, through the church and through Saul.
• And to the lands beyond Jerusalem, to the Samaritans and the Gentiles.
Which cry would I be shouting when I am wronged? The cry for justice or for mercy.
• Think of the person who has wronged you the most. Maybe someone who has betrayed your trust, taken advantage of you, or said the wrong things about you.
• When you pray, will it be a call for justice or for mercy?
Stephen was able to say such a prayer because he has experienced God’s grace and forgiveness. Jesus said, he who has been forgiven much, love much. (cf. Luke 7:47)
• Let us think more of the Lord’s forgiveness for us. Reflect on how much God has shown you mercy and grace, despite our failures.
• Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Col 3:13).
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We see the death of a man “full of the Spirit and wisdom” and his works “full of God’s grace and power.”
• What can we learn from Stephen? I believe we can learn many things from the last 3 messages on Stephen.
• From the text today, we can adopt Stephen’s perspective and echo his prayer.
(1) Look beyond the present and behold the glory of God. Be assured that the sovereign Lord is in control and He is present.
Col 3:1-4 1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Set our hearts and minds on things above. We will not be overwhelmed by earthly things.
(2) Echo his prayer. Pray for God’s grace to share His love and extend His forgiveness, to those around us, especially those who need it the most.
Stephen died praying. Stephen died praying for others.
André Rivet (French reformed theologian, 1573-1651)
Pastor Andre was a devout man of God and a learned reformed theologian for over 50 years. He spent most of his life in Holland as Professor of Theology at the University of Leyden and has written many books.
On Christmas Day 1650, when he was 77 years old, he preached a sermon, and was immediately afterwards taken ill with a severe disease of the abdomen. He died in less than 2 weeks. He said God—in a very real sense—did more for him in those last few days of life than in all the years before. Listen to what he wrote just before he died:
“The sense of divine favour increases in me every moment. My pains are tolerable, and my joys inestimable. I am no more vexed with earthly cares. I remember when any new book came out, how earnestly I have longed after it—but now all that is but dust. You are my all, O Lord; my good is to approach you. O what a library I have in God, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! You are the teacher of spirits—I have learned more divinity in these ten days that you have come to visit me, than I did in fifty years before.”
(Archibald Alexander, Thoughts on Religious Experience, London: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1967, p. 207)
How satisfying! Just like Stephen in his final moment, about to meet His Saviour.
• Stephen’s life matters. Stephen’s death matters too.
PRAY:
Dear Lord, we are still learning to walk by Your ways and surrender to Your will. Grant us the strength and the faith we need. May our lives continue to tell Your story.
In whatever circumstances, let us stay faithful and true to you. Whatever we face, we trust that you have your purpose in them. You will make all things beautiful in your time. Let your Word continue to shine the path for us, and help us walk in it.
Let us grow more and more in your likeness, dear Jesus. May this week be another rewarding one, whether we are at home, at school or at work.
May the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and forevermore, AMEN.
