Stephen’s Defence
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