Stephen’s Sermon
By Timothy Glover
When the Jews could not when their arguments with Stephen, they brought false witnesses who claimed that he spoke against Moses and God. The charge was blasphemy. Acts 7 records Stephen’s defense. He spoke of the history of the Jews. This was pleasing to the ears of the Jews who had a proud heritage . He begins with Abraham and the Sons of Israel (Jacob) to the case of Joseph and his brothers who migrate to Egypt. In time, the Jewish family became slaves in Egypt. So, God sent a deliverer in the person of Moses. Stephen recalled the promise of God to raise up a greater prophet than Moses. Still, Stephen continues with a mention of Jewish religion through the tabernacle and temple (7:44-50).
Yet, this was not to be a history lesson. Stephen says, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it” (Acts 7:51-53). What did the history have to do with the charge against him? It had paved the way for an analogy. As Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers, and Moses rejected at first by his people and repeatedly rejected by him after the Exodus from Egypt; and as all the prophets had been similarly treated; so now, the final prophet of whom Moses and the prophets had spoken, has been rejected and killed, i.e. Jesus Christ. He charges them with having the same disposition of their forefathers. It is interesting that they proved Stephen’s assessment when they killed him.
Stephen was the first martyr. You will notice a progression in the persecution of the church. First, they were threatened, imprisoned and beat. Then, when open debate was unsuccessful, they resorted to violence which ignited a wave of persecutions. Now, it was not limited to the leaders but to anyone who was of that “way”.
Its effect was not what the persecutors were hoping. “All who were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” (8:1). This shows that the ordinary members were involved in spreading the word. Hence, the death of Stephen provides a turning point in the history of the church. The scene moves from Jerusalem to other parts of the world where the gospel was spread.
Paul, who consented to Stephen’s death, will play a prominent role in spreading the word as recorded in Acts.
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