Memorize: Intensive defense by Stephen
Key Verses: 3, 9-10, 18, 25, 37, 39, 51, 58
God often calls people to leave and go. We see this as we read the events here in Acts. Stephen lays out a brief history of God’s call to His people to leave and to gather. Stephen shows parallels between Israel’s stubbornness and the religious leaders’ stubbornness, Israel’s rejection of God’s messengers and the religious leaders’ rejection of Jesus. Joseph was rejected by his brothers. Israel was rejected by the Egyptians. Moses was rejected by his fellow Israelites. And now the religious leaders are rejecting the Messiah, Jesus, whom Moses predicted would come to bring deliverance once again to those who would obey.
Stephen does not hold back the sharpness of his argument. He could soften his tone, remove the attack in his words in an effort to save his life, but he doesn’t. He states the Truth clearly and pointedly. There is no doubt that the religious leaders understand these words. The intensity with which they attack is astonishing. With Jesus they went and got permission to have Him killed. Now they let their fury overtake the situation and take the law into their own hands. Rome had not given them the authority to kill and yet that is exactly what they do. They let their anger get out of control.
Verse 51 stick the knife in their hearts and gives it a twist. They are resisting what God is doing, just like their ancestors did. They are just like those who killed the prophets before them. They are responsible for killing the Messiah. Stephen receives the negative feedback of their rejection. He becomes the physical object upon whom their anger is unleashed. He is stoned to death. If you search YouTube you can watch a modern day stoning. It is a brutal way to die. There is nothing impersonal about it. Individual stones thrown. Individual anger released. Pain inflicted. Death.
Stephen is the first Christian to be killed for his faith in Jesus. Millions have followed him. Thousands are killed each year for their faith today. I want to encourage you to visit persecution.org and read what is happening today to your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. There are modern day Stephens who are making just as bold a stance. How bold is your stand for Christ?
REVIEW: Run John again. Then run Acts. It should be getting easier, but don’t get discouraged if it isn’t. Just stick with it.
The Arnold Journey 