SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH”
TEXT: ACTS 6:8-8:1
TITLE: “TAKING A GOOD LOOK”
INTRODUCTION: A. Throughout the course of life there are certain people who seem to stand out from the
pack. These are people like Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Ben Franklin.
1. You might also think of Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther.
--These people made an impact through the lives they lived.
2. In the Bible there are a host of people whose stories stand as examples to us.
a. In the Old Testament there was Abraham, Joseph, David, and Elijah.
b. In the New Testament we think about James, John, Peter, Paul and Mary
--(sorry!).
3. A man who should also be on this list is the very first Christian martyr, a man by the
name of Stephen.
a. A martyr is a person who voluntarily dies for what they hold to be true.
--The word martyr actually comes from the Greek word for witness or testifier.
b. We first met Stephen in the first part of Acts 6.
--He was one of seven men chosen to minister to the widows and orphans in the
new and growing church. In this extended passage of Scripture we look at
today, we learn some of the story of Stephen.
c. He stands as an example of what it means to live and die for Jesus Christ.
B. There was a motorist with poor eyesight driving through a dense fog. Trying to
desperately stay within seeing-range of taillights of car ahead of him. As he squinted
and worried his way along, trying to stay on course with those taillights, the car in
front suddenly stopped and the two cars collided.
The driver of the rear car got out and demanded to know why the other driver
came to such an abrupt stop. The other driver said, “I had to! I’m in my own garage!”
1. I think that story is a good parable of our modern world
--We’re travelling around in a dense fog hoping that we’re following something that
will guide us safely where we want to go.
2. The bad news is three-fold:
a. Many don’t know where they’ve been
b. Others don’t know where they are
c. A great many don’t know where they’re going
C. Need to recap Acts 6:8-7:1 to remind us where we left off the last time and to lead us
to where we are tonight: Stephen’s address to the Sanhedrin and how it applies to us.
1. Stephen was not only serving as a deacon in ministry for the distribution of food to
the widows, we also find him preaching and performing miracles.
2. The message of Jesus Christ was upsetting to some of the Jews and so they decided
to have Stephen arrested by telling false stories and by stirring up the people and
the leadership with false accusations.
3. Acts 7:1 brings to where I want to start this evening: “1Then the high priest asked
him, "Are these charges true?"”
4. We’re going to look at Stephen’s response, his address, to the Sanhedrin
--Not going to read every verse but we will cover each part. Please utilize your
Bibles to follow along. If not, you will probably get lost.
5. As we look at this speech to the Sanhedrin, Stephen basically says:
a. Let’s look at where we’ve been
b. Let’s look at what we’ve become
c. Let’s look at where we’re going
I. Let’s look at where we’ve been: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HEBREWS
A. Abraham – vss. 1-8 (don’t read)
1. Called out of Mesopotamia not Palestine
--Ur of the Chaldees
2. Promises made to him concerning his ‘see”
a. That he and his descendants would possess the land the Lord would give them
b. Abraham had no descendants (no children) when the Lord gave His promise
3. That they would spend time in a foreign land (Egypt)
4. Gave covenant of circumcision
5. Abraham father of Isaac who became father of Jacob who became father of twelve sons
B. Joseph – vss. 9-18 (don’t read)
1. Treatment of Joseph by his brothers
2. How God strengthened and preserved Joseph
3. Gen. 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being
done, the saving of many lives.”
C. Moses – vss. 19-41 (don’t read)
--How God provided a leader to bring His people out of slavery
D. Other prophets vss. 42-44 (don’t read)
--Sent to show God’s call to relationship
E. Throughout Israel’s history there was rebellion against what God wanted done
--In this overview of history, Stephen points out:
II. A BRUSQUE RECOUNTING OF REBELLION
A. Abraham didn’t go directly to the land he was supposed to go
--He waited in Haran for his father to die before moving where the Lord wanted him to go
B. Joseph’s brothers rejected the concept that their younger brother would be their superior
C. Moses was rejected as a leader and judge early on because he had killed an Egyptian who was beating an
Hebrew slave
D. Other prophets were rejected, despised, and even killed when they brought the message that the people
had turned away from God and needed to repent.
1. A prophet is someone who brings God’s message of holiness and to call God’s people back from
idolatry; a message of repentance.
2. These were people who turned from a righteous and loving God to child sacrifice and astrology
**Stephen also points out:
III. Let’s look at what we’ve become: A BRAZEN INDICTMENT OF IMPIETY
A. The Temple – vss. 44-50 – “44"Our forefathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the
desert. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. 45Having
received the tabernacle, our fathers under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the
nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, 46who enjoyed God’s
favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47But it was Solomon
who built the house for him. 48"However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the
prophet says: 49" ’Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you
build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting-place be? 50Has not my hand made all these
things?’”
1. Tabernacle plans given directly to Moses by God
a. Symbol of the presence of God in the midst of the people
b. Shekinah glory rested outside (cloud by day; fire by night)
2. Temple also designed by God because it was basically a permanent set-up of the tabernacle
--actually three temple in history of the Jewish people:
a. Solomon – destroyed during Babylonian captivity
b. Zerubbabel – built after Jews returned after Babylonian captivity; never recaptured glory of
temple built by Solomon
c. Herod the Great – 42 years to complete; destroyed in 70 AD
B. The Jews would point to three things to make a claim concerning their special standing before God as
the “chosen people”:
1. We are the children/descendants of Abraham
2. We have the Law given to us by Moses
3. We have the Temple to signify God’s presence
C. However, Jesus clearly had some things to say about those claims as opposed to relationship to the
Father through the Himself:
1. “I can make children of Abraham from those rocks. Before Abraham was, I AM.”
2. “I came to fulfill the Law.”
3. “I tell you that one greater than the Temple is here.”
D. Stephen calls these people “stiff-necked” and “uncircumcised of heart and ears”
--Acts 7:51-53 – “51"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like
your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not
persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you
have betrayed and murdered him-- 53you who have received the law that was put into effect through
angels but have not obeyed it."
1. “Stiff-necked” – “will not bow the head; literally will not be humble or show reverence
2. “uncircumcised of heart and ears” –
a. Circumcision was understood as the cutting away of pride and sinfulness of heart; it was yielding
of the most private parts to God.
b. The physical act had been completed but the spiritual part was not yet yielded
E. The church at the beginning of the 21st century needs to hear the message that Stephen delivered to the
1st century.
--A lot of people in church have the wrong attitudes and ideas about what the church is supposed to be:
1. My family has a long-standing tradition in this congregation
--we’re children of Abraham
2. Everything’s okay because they come to church
--Bodies are in the pews but their hearts and minds are somewhere else.
3. Everything’s okay because they’ve been dunked in water
--Their bodies may have been immersed but their hearts have never yielded to God
4. Everything’s okay because they put money in the offering plate
--But they believe it gives them a right to run the church because they have bought part of it with
their money
5. God has sent men with a message into pulpits all over the world but people with uncircumcised
hearts and ears refuse to bend their stiff necks and yield their innermost self to Him!
6. Hear the words of Jesus in Mt. 7:21-23 – “21"Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter
the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will
say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out
demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ’I never knew you. Away from
me, you evildoers!’”
IV. Let’s look at where we’re going: A BRAVE WAY TO WITNESS
--Acts 7:54-60 – “54When 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. 59While 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.”
A. Stephen’s message hits home – vs. 54
1. They were murderously angry
a. Another translation has “cut to the heart”
--Greek literally “sawn through”
b. “gnashing their teeth” – a cultural way of showing their rage
2. The crowd on the day of Pentecost was cut to the heart but this crowd was full of anger and hatred
B. Compare Stephen’s behavior to the crowd’s – vs. 55
1. The difference was the focus of their attention
--Stephen on Jesus and the crowd wrapped up in themselves
2. Scriptural recognition of what Stephen saw:
a. Dan. 7:13-14 – “13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,
coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his
presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of
every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
b. Mk. 14:61-62 – “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."”
C. Stephen’s statements about Jesus standing at God’s right hand
--vss. 57-58a – “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.”
D. Comparison of Stephen’s death to Jesus’ death
1. vs. 59-60 – “59While 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.”
2. Lk. 23:34a – “34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."”
--Lk. 23:46 – “46Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."
When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
3. Notice Jesus commended His spirit to the Father while Stephen asked Jesus to receive his spirit
4. How did Stephen face his circumstances so bravely?
a. Stephen kept his focus on Jesus
b. Followed Jesus’ example
CONCLUSION: A. Tonight we have to ask ourselves the three important questions:
1. Where have I been?
2. What have I become?
3. Where am I going?
B. Tonight we also have the opportunity to change the answers to two of those questions:
1. What have I become?
2. Where am I going?
C. God’s word tells us that we can all be like the old preacher who exclaimed: “I ain’t what
I want to be; and I ain’t what I’m gonna be; but thank God, I ain’t what I was!”
