author's note: involved readers can discover all old volumes of this series right here.
Thanks for joining us! nowadays we study a Jewish man named Stephen. he's familiar to be the first Christian martyr for his perception within the divinity of Jesus Christ. We at first examine Stephen in the New testomony e-book of Acts 6:1-7.
To paraphrase these verses: considering that the number of believers in Jesus "turned into increasing," His twelve Disciples crucial greater disciples to support feed the poor in order that they might "give our consideration to prayer and ministry of the word." (a wise strategic administration choice based on promising long-time period increase instead of running everyday operations.)
at that time, round 31-33 A.D., Christianity changed into a nascent movement referred to as "the style" first mentioned in Acts 9:2. The "method" reflects Jesus announcing, "i'm the manner, the truth, and the lifestyles. nobody comes to the daddy apart from through me" (John 14:6).
To accommodate the growing to be ministry, the Twelve opt for seven men, including Stephen, who changed into "filled with the spirit and knowledge." Stephen is described as "a man full of God's grace and energy, did fantastic wonders and astounding signs among the many [Jewish] individuals" (Acts 6:eight).
sadly for Stephen, that God-given "vigour" led to battle with Jewish leaders:
"but they could not rise up in opposition t the knowledge the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to assert, 'we have heard Stephen talk blasphemous phrases against Moses and in opposition t God.' in order that they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the legislation. They seized Stephen and brought him earlier than the Sanhedrin" (Acts 6:10-12). notice that the Sanhedrin become historic Israel's "supreme court docket" of Jewish elders.
covered in the testimony against Stephen turned into this prophetic can charge:
"For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this area and change the customs Moses passed right down to us" (Acts 6:14). be aware, about 4 decades later in 70 A.D., the Romans (now not Jesus) destroyed Jerusalem along with the Temple, and also, "the manner" sprung from Judaism. (this is why Messianic Jews like me trust that Jesus "completes" Judaism.)
based on here verse, throughout Stephen's trial the Sanhedrin noticed something astonishing in him: "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked closely at Stephen, and they saw that his face turned into just like the face of an angel" (Acts 6:15).
in all probability as a result of his angelic face, "Then the high priest asked Stephen, 'Are these expenses authentic? ' " (Acts 7:1). Stephen seizes the query as a chance to fight for his life, espousing "the truth." He launches into a prolonged, uninterrupted, passionate heritage of the Jewish individuals and their relationship with God. For additional credit score, you can examine Stephen's testimony in Acts 7:1-fifty three.
near the end, Stephen reminds the Sanhedrin that God is not limited to a building. He builds his personal temple saying, "despite the fact, probably the most high doesn't reside in residences made by means of human palms." (Acts 7:48). Stephen lays the Biblical groundwork for why the Holy Spirit lives outdoor of a temple. Then he rates Isaiah: " 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool" (Acts 7: 49-50).
although, at the conclusion of his lengthy history lesson reply, Stephen lets it rip, yelling at the Sanhedrin for what they did to Jesus:
"You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are nevertheless uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You at all times face up to the Holy Spirit! changed into there ever a prophet your ancestors didn't persecute? They even killed those who expected the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who've got the law that turned into given through angels however haven't obeyed it" (Acts 7:fifty one-fifty three).
Naturally, the Sanhedrin "had been furious and gnashed their enamel at him." subsequent, we read how Jesus replied to one in every of His believers at their time of need:
"however Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, regarded up to heaven and noticed the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the correct hand of God. 'look,' he noted, 'I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the appropriate hand of God'" (Acts 7: fifty four-56). (See Vol. fifty three explaining why Jesus referred to as Himself the "Son of Man.")
When the Sanhedrin heard Stephen proclaim that he turned into seeing the "Son of Man," they "dragged him out of the metropolis and commenced to stone him" (Acts 7: 57-58).
The passage that follows reads, "whereas they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, obtain my spirit.' Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Lord, don't hang this sin against them.' When he had mentioned this, he fell asleep" [died] (Acts 7: fifty nine-60).
be aware how Stephen's remaining words are similar to the final phrases of Jesus in Luke 23:34.
Why is the stoning of Stephen a seminal adventure in the early heritage of Christianity? here are four explanations, but all are of equal magnitude.
First, there are two verses in Acts (7:58 and 8:1) that point out a man named Saul who became current and authorized the stoning of Stephen. Saul, a member of the Sanhedrin, turned into a spiritual chief who oversaw the persecution of Jews who believed in Jesus — except he famously had his personal come upon in Acts 9: 1-31. Saul's identify changed into modified to Paul and at last he wrote half of the new testament chapters while becoming the area's most helpful evangelist for Christianity.
2d, after the stoning of Stephen, the followers of Jesus feared for his or her lives and left Jerusalem. besides the fact that children, many of the apostles stayed. however Christianity spread via that persecution (Acts eight:1-four) as it has during heritage and to at the present time.
Third, Stephen, as the first Christian martyr, had no concern of loss of life while challenging authority. He grew to be an proposal and role mannequin for missionaries global who've suffered or died in His name. Stephen's story reminds believers that if you happen to rise up for Jesus, He could be with you on the planet and in Heaven.
Fourth, Stephen confirmed the Jewish leaders that Jesus became value demise for because He was the "Son of Man standing on the correct hand of God" whom the prophets wrote about within the Hebrew Bible.
And to that, I say, "Amen!"
Myra Kahn Adams is a media producer and conservative political and non secular author with numerous national credits. She is additionally govt Director of www.SignFromGod.org, a ministry committed to educating americans concerning the Shroud of Turin. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com or Twitter @MyraKAdams.
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