THE STORY OF STEPHEN

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. (Also See Vss. 9-15)

Acts 7:58-60 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Also See Vss. 1-58)

Stephen's life story, as it is revealed in inspired scriptures, begins with his selection to fill the church office of deacon with the responsibility of ministering to the needy saints. As one of seven qualified for this position, he was chosen by the whole multitude of Christians in Jerusalem (Vs. 5). Stephen did more than helping to care for the physical needs of Christians, he became a preacher of the gospel message of salvation through the Son of God, Jesus Christ. After being chosen, he was brought before the apostles whom laid their hands on him (Vs. 6), imparting to him the Holy Spirit of God, filling him with faith and power and the ability to confirm his teaching with great wonders and miracles among the people.

Just as the teaching of Peter and John angered the chief priest and members of the Sanhedrin, so the teaching of Stephen stirred up the people and irritated devout Jews of all nations that had gathered in Jerusalem (Vs. 9). As he preached in the synagogue, they disputed with Stephen - that is, they opposed the doctrinal message he was teaching. Chapter 7 assures us that Stephen was extremely knowledgeable about Jewish law and its history. The sincere and zealous manner he delivered the message of salvation through Christ Jesus could not be denied. It is also evident that they could not answer or scripturally disprove his teaching. Yet, due to their dogmatic misunderstanding of God's holy word, they refused to agree and accept the Holy Spirit-inspired New Testament doctrine Stephen was teaching (Vs. 10).

As false witnesses were hired to declare Jesus' as a blasphemous teacher against God (Matt. 26:60-61), verse 11 tells us many Jews who had assembled in the temple opposed Stephen in the same manner: they suborned men, which said, we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. In the eyes of intolerantly zealous Jews, any challenge to the Mosaic Law, and the establishment of a new law and kingdom under Jesus Christ, was considered blasphemous against Moses, and against God. Apparently this misrepresentation of Stephen's teaching was effective. It stirred up the people; they became hostile against this young preacher of God's call to salvation through Christ Jesus. In their anger, they seized Stephen and brought him to the council, which is the Jewish governing body - the Sanhedrin.

Here, false witnesses were influenced by Jewish leaders to testify that the actions and teaching of Stephen was nothing more than blasphemous words against all they held as holy in the sight of the Jewish nation (Vs. 13). Misinterpreting what he taught, these false witnesses contended that Stephen said that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs, which Moses delivered us (Vs. 14). Not understanding the prophecies, which supported the coming of Christ, zealous, erring Jews considered Stephen to be an anarchist, promoting political disorder in order to undermine the Jewish Law of Moses. It is evident that the physical appearance of Stephen radiated the contentment, peace, and joy of being a Christian and bringing salvation into the world, because all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel (Vs. 15).

Brought before the council, Stephen was accused of speaking blasphemous words against this holy place (the Jewish temple of worship), and against the law (the Jewish law of Moses) (Acts 6:13). While facing the members of this body, the Sanhedrin, Stephen was questioned: Then said the high priest, are these things so (Acts 7:1)? In his defense, Stephen recites the history of the Jewish nation that had its beginning with God's call of Abraham from his dwelling place in Mesopotamia into the land which I shall show thee (Vs. 3). Although Abraham saw the Promised Land, yet it was not possessed by him or by his heritage until after the long sojourn of the Jewish nation in Egypt (Vss. 4-7). This laid the foundation of Stephen's defense with the intention to prove that it was the "Seed" of Abraham that was to be held in highest esteem, and not the temple of worship or the Law of Moses. The promise of salvation through Christ Jesus was prophesied (See Gen. 17:1-14) before the covenant of circumcision (Vs. 8) was given to Abraham. Later this was included in the Law of Moses. This same promise preceded, by many years, the building of the temple of worship. Thus Christ's superiority is demonstrated over both the Law of Moses and the temple.

Verses 9-16 relates the Jewish history of the twelve patriarchs of Jacob, including Joseph who was sold by his brothers into Egyptian servitude, ...but God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. As Joseph was rejected by his brethren, so Jesus was rejected by the Israel. And just as Joseph physically saved his family from starvation due to dearth and famine, so Jesus, the promised "Seed" of Abraham, brought spiritual salvation, first to the Jewish nation, then to the entire world.

Beginning in verse 17 and continuing through verse 42, Stephen relates the history of Moses, the most revered patriarch of the Israelites. The Jewish people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till another king arose, which knew not Joseph, and dealt harshly with them. Moses was born, raised by the Pharaoh's daughter, and became a wise and mighty man. At the age of forty, Moses slew an Egyptian that was dealing oppressively with a Jewish slave. Because of this incident and the status and power that Moses had, his own people feared him. Afraid his deed would be found out by the Pharaoh, and abandoned by his own people, Moses fled into the land of Midian, where he lived for forty years, married the daughter of Jethro, and became the father of two sons. At the end of this period, Moses was miraculously called by God to deliver the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. For forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness before God allowed them to enter and inherit the Promised Land. Moses, the most revered character in Old Testament history, gave the Jewish nation this prophecy of the Messiah: A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear (Vs. 37). Stephen continues by saying that, just as the children of Israel rejected Moses and the commandments of God that he delivered to them, so the Jewish nation rejected Christ as the Son of God, Savior of the world, and Head over the church, which had its beginning on the Day of Pentecost by the inspired teaching of the apostles. On this day, all that obeyed God's call to salvation became obedient followers of Christ Jesus and were baptized into His body - the church of Christ.

Verses 43 through 50 tell of the tabernacle and the temple, which were built according to the pattern given by God to Moses and to Solomon respectively. The tabernacle, which the Sanhedrin contended to hold in high esteem, was desecrated by the Israelites and turned into an abominable place to worship Moloch and other false gods, which resulted in God allowing them to be taken into Babylonian captivity. And the temple of worship built by Solomon, which members of the council held to be sacred, was only a temporary dwelling place for our Heavenly Father. 2 Chronicles 6:18 says that God cannot be contained in a house, such as the tabernacle or the temple, which was made with the hands of men. Stephen then condemns members of the council for placing such importance on the temple. He told them that the true temple of God, the spiritual kingdom of God, the church over which Jesus was made head, is greater that any physical building constructed both then and now. Not in the temple and its rituals of animal sacrifices, but it is in this kingdom, the church of Christ, that one may find redemption from sins through the sacrificial, atoning blood of Jesus, and enjoy the hope of God's promised eternal salvation.

After reciting these historical events which pointed to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Stephen speaks of their spiritual blindness (See Vss. 51-53). He says that the Jewish leaders were stiffnecked, that it stubborn, set in their ritualistic ways, and unwilling to recognize the true will of God and the testimony of His prophets. Having received the law, Stephen said that they have not kept it. They were uncircumcised in heart and ears; they were no better than the pagans of heathen nations. Their history proves that, instead of heeding the guidance of God's prophets, they persecuted them. And the ultimate Prophet of God, His Son, Jesus Christ, whom he said that they rejected, betrayed, and, finally, had Him murdered.

Condemned by Stephen, the council became violently enraged. Filled with the Holy Spirit of God, Stephen said, behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Refusing to hear more, they, with the consent of Saul of Tarsus, cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And after Stephen's pleading for God's mercy on their souls, he fell asleep. The story of Stephen tells us to accept God's inspired teaching of salvation through Jesus Christ, and reject all that oppose or alter it in any way.