Acts 7:54-60

His message challenged the status quo… the land, the law, the temple…. but it was received as an attack on the Jewish people generally and specifically.

Stephen wanted to open up their hearts to the gospel of Jesus, but they heard someone challenging, in fact destroying, everything they held sacred.

Acts 7:55 ESV

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

Acts 7:56 ESV

And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Make no mistake, this further was seen as blasphemy. The reason was, that Jesus in Mark 14.62 had stood before this very council and declared the following:

Mark 14:62 ESV

And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

For stephen to claim that he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God…. and to report that this was “the son of man” set their rage on fire. He was not only claiming he saw this awesome sight, but that Jesus- who had stood before them before- was the fulfillment of the long awaited Messiah….

This is the last time the term “Son of Man” is found in the Bible.

Acts 7:55–56 ESV

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Stephen’s words confirmed what Jesus claimed- he was the Son of God…. and further, it condemned the Council.

They had few choices…..

they could repent- that wasn’t going to happen.

So they had to find Stephen guilty of blasphemy. Had he been judged just an apostate from the faith, he would have received 39 lashes—- but blasphemy meant he would be killed by stoning

When Stephen joined the glory of God with Jesus, he saw the heavens opened… and that image is that access to heaven is through Jesus, the one that Stephen saw.

Note, Jesus is standing …. he is not sitting at the right hand of God. Many commentators affirm that Jesus was standing to welcome Stephen into heaven. .

In this Jewish council, a witness would not be seated as in our courts. Rather, the witness would stand before the council and give their testimony. Stephen has been telling, advocating, for Jesus… his final breath allows him to see Jesus standing before the throne of God- advocating for him.

Acts 7:57 ESV

But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.

Acts 7:58 ESV

Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

There would have been official witnesses present. Their task would have been to knock the offender (Stephen) down and to throw the first stones.

These witnesses laid down their coats at the feet of Saul, who would later become Paul.

Acts 7:59 ESV

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Acts 7:60 ESV

And 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.

Stephen died with words similar to Jesus’ words on his lips.

Luke 23:34 says

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Luke 23:46 says

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Acts 8:1 (ESV)

And Saul approved of his execution.

CONDEMNATION

For. Israel, Stephen’s death meant condemning a blasphemer. They had killed John the Baptist. they killed God the Father who had sent John.

See Matthew 21.28-32 a

Matthew 21:28–32 ESV

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

John the Baptist came in RIGHTEOUSNESS.

When they asked Pilate to crucify Jesus, they sinned against God the Son.

See Matthew 21.33-46

Matthew 21:33–46 ESV

“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

Israel condemned the Holy Spirit when they stoned Stephen.

see acts 7.51

Acts 7:51 ESV

51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

What did the persecution of Stephen mean for the early church?

FREEDOM

In the very next chapter, Acts 8, the church begins to take the message to the gentiles and to spread the message around the world. This would have never happened without the persecution of Stephen and others like him. They fulfilled the great commission of Acts 1.8

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

What did the persecution of Stephen mean for Saul?

SALVATION

What did persecution of Stephen mean for Saul?

He never forgot what happened.

Who was Saul?

Philippians 3:4–6 ESV

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Saul never forgot the persecution of Stephen. Later in Saul’s life, he would once again find himself in Jerusalem before the same council. The one that sent Stephen to his death, Read Acts 22.17-21

Acts 22:17–21 ESV

17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

The most telling words of Stephen’s stoning are these: And Saul approved of his execution.

One of the strange truths of anyone who becomes a Christian is that their world gets turned upside down. What once looked right is wrong, what once looked wrong is right, …the first is last, the last is first.

The same witnesses that brought Stephen to his death made Stephen a witness to the Lord of Life. Saul is the proof.

The same death that ended Stephen’s life brought Saul to life.

Acts 9:1–9 ESV

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

The same glory that Stephen was blessed with Saul was convicted by. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

The same glory that Stephen saw blinded Saul and he could not see.

Bottom Line:

The Life You Live Is The Message You Preach

God needed a witness at the stoning of Stephen, and Stephen was unknowingly that witness. He never knew what his death meant to Saul, who approved of this execution.

One of the hardest things you will ever have to say is “I was wrong”. I don’t know why that is, but it seems to be true for all of us. When Saul became Paulon the damascus road, he said, “I was wrong- but I wanna be right”. Right with Jesus. And the death of Stephen got him there.

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