Stephen’s Defence
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