May 19, 2019

Stephen’s Defence

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Acts 7:1-60
Service Type:

Bible Text: Acts 7:1-60 | Preacher: Andrew Love | Series: Acts | Introduction

Stephen had a vision of the Lord Jesus

Very few people have had a vision of Jesus
The Lord Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of the Father
He is ready to receive Stephen into glory

This chapter has so much to teach us

How much of the Bible do we know?
How well do you know the Bible?
The Bible is God’s word and we need to know how to use it
Example of Andrea Williams

Stephen before the 71 men

An intimidating situation
Accused …
… of Blasphemy
He answers the charges in an indirect manner

Overview:

The Man
The Message
The Martyrdom

The Man

A deacon – waiting on tables
A remarkable speaker – empowered by the Holy Spirit

He had great wisdom from God

He calls them ‘brethren and fathers’
He speaks of their shared history
He brings out lessons from this history
He speaks about things in veiled terms – not to cast pearls before swine
He becomes clearer
He brings conviction to their conscience

He is using the word of God as His defence

No one can stand against this
He knows how to speak of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, etc
This should encourage and challenge us

He is expounding progressive revelation

He is unfolding revelation
He is coming to the fulfillment in Jesus Christ

As innocent as a dove and wise as a serpent

The Message

Charged as being ‘against Moses and against God’ – 6:11

He starts “The God of glory”
He says that God is not just the God of Israel but of Mesopotamia, of Moses (the burning bush), of Egypt

It is not all about a physical land
It is about the God of glory ruling in His way

He says there was a promise of an inheritance, but it was not given to Abraham
He says that the patriarchs were envious – v9

He implies that they are envious

He says that God was sovereign

At the right time God raised up Joseph and Moses
Moses was not understood

He brings out important events of the Old Testament

He speaks of the deliverers provided by God
He speaks of the people’s disobedience

v42-43 cf Amos 5:25-27

He comes to the time of the temple

He says that God cannot be contained by buildings

As there is no response, reflection or repentance

He charges them with being stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart
v52 – He charges them with disobeying God’s law and that they murdered Jesus

Application:

When we bring God’s word – not everyone will receive it
It doesn’t mean that someone well versed in Scripture will see fruit
It reminds us that God has different purposes for different people

You read of great deliverance and of martyrs in the Bible
God would use Stephen’s death for the expansion of the Kingdom

The Martyrdom

A horrible death

They take off their clothes
They put them at Saul’s feet – v58

This likely troubled him
God likely used this in the conversion of Saul

They don’t want to hear

They put their fingers in their ears
They run at him

They cast him outside of the city

Does this not remind us of Jesus Christ?
Does Stephen’s prayer not remind us of Jesus’ prayer?

This is a glorious death

God is with him
God strengthens him
The way he dies glorifies God

Application:

God will always stand with His people in their hour of need
God can fill our hearts with such love, even in such terrible circumstances
God will bring us to be with Him

Closing Remarks