The Stoning of Stephen

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The Stoning of Stephen

• Acts The Unfinished Story of the Church Series
  17
• Acts 754-83
• July 1, 2012
• Pastor Paul K. Kim

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PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON STEPHENS DEATH

• It is the prototype of Christian martyrdomthe
  first example to follow.
• It is a story of two contrasting
  reactionsStephens vs. the crowds.
• It is the trigger point of the early church being
  scattered beyond Jerusalemthe shift from the
  Jewish gospel to the universal gospel.

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WHAT VALUABLE LESSONS DOES STEPHENS DEATH SHOW
US?

• 1) Stephens death shows us the PEACE AND
  FEARLESSNESS of a Spirit-filled life even when
  facing persecution.
•  54 Now when they heard these things they were
  enraged, and
• they ground their teeth at him. 55 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. 56 And he said, Behold, I see the
  heavens opened, and the Son of
• Man standing at the right hand of God. 57 But
  they cried out with a loud
• voice and stopped their ears and rushed together
  at him. (vs. 54-57)
• Stephen had peace fearlessness while the crowd
  had rage uncontrollable fury. Why was it so?
• Stephen was full of the Spirit the crowd was
  full of hatred.
• The most remarkable thing about Stephens
  response is his trouble-free calm heart and love
  for his enemies.

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• He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
• to gain what he cannot lose.
• Jim Elliot

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WHAT VALUABLE LESSONS DOES STEPHENS DEATH SHOW
US?

• 2) Stephens death shows us the CHRISTLIKENESS
  of a transformed life even in how he dies.
• 58 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. 59 And as they were stoning
  Stephen, he called out,
• Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 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.
  (vs.58-60)
• This execution by stoning was a brutal mob
  violence.
• The strange phenomenon was that Stephen was not
  bitter in all thishis response was much similar
  to that of Jesus.

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Ten Parallels between the Passion of Jesus and
of Stephen by Ben Witherington

1. Trial before high priest/Sanhedrin (Mark 1453
   and par./Acts 612 71)
2. False witnesses (Mark 145657 Matt. 266061
   not in Luke/Acts 613)
3. Testimony concerning the destruction of the
   temple (Mark 1458 Matt. 2661 not in Luke/Acts
   614)
4. Temple made with hands (Mark 1458 not in
   Luke/Acts 748)
5. Son of Man saying (Mark 1462 and par./Acts 756)
6. Charge of blasphemy (Mark 1464, Matt. 2665 not
   in Luke/Acts 611)
7. High priests question (Mark 1461 Matt. 2663
   not in Luke (cf. 2267, they/Acts 71)
8. Committal of spirit (only in Luke 2346/Acts
   759)
9. Cry out with a loud voice (Mark 1534Matt.
   2746 Mark 1537 and par./Acts 760)
10. Intercession for enemies forgiveness (only in
    Luke 2334/Acts 760)

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WHAT VALUABLE LESSONS DOES STEPHENS DEATH SHOW
US?

• 2) Stephens death shows us the CHRISTLIKENESS
  of a transformed life even in how he dies.
• 58 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. 59 And as they were stoning
  Stephen, he called out,
• Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 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.
  (vs.58-60)
• This execution by stoning was a brutal mob
  violence.
• The strange phenomenon was that Stephen was not
  bitter in all thishis response was much similar
  to that of Jesus.
• Stephens Christlike reactions were a result NOT
  of a mere momentary decision BUT of a transformed
  life/character.

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WHAT VALUABLE LESSONS DOES STEPHENS DEATH SHOW
US?

• 3) Stephens death shows us the LASTING IMPACT
  of a faithful life of witness unto death.
•  1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there
  arose on that day
• a great persecution against the church in
  Jerusalem, and they were
• all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and
  Samaria, except the
• apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made
  great lamentation over
• him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and
  entering house after house,
• he dragged off men and women and committed them
  to prison. (81-3)
• The sovereign plan of God was to use Stephens
  death as the way to create a bigger impact on the
  world.

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• The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.
• Tertullian
• (Early Church Father, 160-225 AD)

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WHAT VALUABLE LESSONS DOES STEPHENS DEATH SHOW
US?

• 3) Stephens death shows us the LASTING IMPACT
  of a faithful life of witness unto death.
•  1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there
  arose on that day
• a great persecution against the church in
  Jerusalem, and they were
• all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and
  Samaria, except the
• apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made
  great lamentation over
• him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and
  entering house after house,
• he dragged off men and women and committed them
  to prison. (81-3)
• The sovereign plan of God was to use Stephens
  death as the way to create a bigger impact on the
  world.
• A lasting impact of this seed was on young Saul
  (aka Paul).
• The other lasting impact was that this seed was
  used to expand the church and to spread the
  gospel beyond the Jews.

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The Badge of True Discipleship

• Suffering, then, is the badge of true
  discipleship. The disciple is not above his
  master That is why Luther reckoned suffering
  among the marks of the true Church If we refuse
  to take up our cross and submit to suffering and
  rejection at the hands of men, we forfeit our
  fellowship with Christ and have ceased to follow
  Him. But if we lose our lives in His service and
  carry out cross, we shall find our lives again in
  the fellowship of the cross with Christ. The
  opposite of discipleship is to be ashamed of
  Christ and His cross and all the offense which
  the cross brings in its train. Discipleship means
  allegiance to the suffering Christ, and it is
  therefore not at all surprising that Christians
  should be called upon to suffer. In fact, it is a
  joy and a token of His grace.
• - Dietrich Bonheoffer

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THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

• What must I surrender to Christ so that I can be
  full of the Holy Spirit as a way of life?
• In what ways am I living a transformed life? What
  first steps can I take to be more Christlike each
  day?
• How can I follow Stephens example as a faithful
  witness even with suffering?

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