Today’s Passage: “And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit…” Acts 6:5a
Today’s devotional continues our study of the gospel as the good news. We recently studied Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, the first example of four speeches or sermons in the Bible that we can apply to our efforts of evangelism today. Today we will study Stephen’s evangelistic speech that begins in Acts 6:7 and ends in Acts 7:60.
Stephen is a marvelous man to study because we can learn much from his example of character, faith and obedience to God. Stephen’s attributes are listed throughout Acts 6. Stephen was chosen as one of seven men to serve in the capacity of deacon because he was “of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” Acts 6:3. He was “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” Acts 6:5. He was “full of faith and power” and he “did great wonders and signs among the people” Acts 6:8. When he discussed the truth with those who opposed him, they had to lie because they “were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” Acts 6:10. Perhaps in a future study we might compare the attributes of Christ as He faced crucifixion and Stephen as he was being stoned. There are notable similarities in their lives from which we can learn many lessons.
STEPHEN’S SPEECH
Teacher: Stephen
Location: Jerusalem
Audience: Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia)
Complete Passage: Acts 6:7-7:60
Main points presented by Stephen:
1. When the high priest asked Stephen about the “evidence” that had been brought against him, Stephen’s defense of Christ was to present the facts that the people should already know from the Law. He spoke of Abraham and the promises made to him about his descendents and the land. He spoke of God’s hand throughout the lives of the descendents of Abraham, the Lord’s chosen people. Stephen reminded them of Israel’s falling away and captivity.
2. Stephen connected the hardheartedness of the people in the patriarchs’ days and during the time of Moses to the stubbornness of his audience in Jerusalem. He did not fear the consequences because he knew that his words were directly from God by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Stephen’s desire to please God and not man (see Peter and John’s similar desire in Acts 4:19) gave him the courage he needed to withstand the angry crowd.
3. After teaching his listeners about God and warning them of the danger of their souls, Stephen cried to the Lord to forgive those who were stoning him to death. Though his sermon was one of warning, it was also one of love and forgiveness.
What lessons can we learn from Stephen’s speech and apply to our efforts to teach the lost today?
1. If we speak the truth in love, there will still be those who oppose us. Many throughout the ages have been persecuted for their defense of the gospel of truth, including Stephen. Some of the many who are mentioned in the Bible are the prophets of God (I Kings 18:13), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 15:15), Jesus (I Peter 2:21), the first century church (Acts 8:3-4) and Paul (II Corinthians 11:23-28). We are not promised that living a Christian life will be easier. In fact, we are warned that it will be difficult because we will suffer for good on the earth (John 15:20, Romans 12:14).
2. There may be some who spread lies about us as they did our Savior. Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) so it is natural that his followers are also liars. Accusations will likely be made against us if we stand up for truth but God, who sees everything, knows the truth and will save us (Psalm 35:20, Matthew 10:22, I Peter 2:12).
3. We must love others enough to teach them God’s Word no matter the consequence. We cannot truly teach others of God’s love if we do not have a similar love in our hearts toward them. People are intelligent enough to know when someone is teaching them out of obligation as opposed to doing so out of love for their souls and will generally build a wall of defense against teachers who are not genuinely concerned for them. Jesus commands us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), love our neighbor (Mark 12:31) and love one another (John 13:34). The Bible has much to say about false motives and pretense (Proverbs 16:2, Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 15:9, I Corinthians 4:5, Philippians 2:3). We must be sincere in our efforts to save souls.
4. We must stand up against evil. As Christians, we must take a stand against the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:11-12). We must confess Jesus Christ before others (Matthew 10:32-33, Romans 10:9-10). If we are Christians, should we not question our faith if we fail to publicly acknowledge Christ wherever we are? After all, we are either for Him or against Him (Luke 11:23). Though the Christians in Acts dispersed because they were being persecuted, they did not hide their religion under a rock. The gospel went with them (Acts 8:4).
5. We must not close our eyes against the sin around us or accept it. Just as Stephen raised awareness of the hypocrisy of his time, there are times when we must call out the sin that is rampant in the lives of those around us who profess to be Christians. We must also teach those who are ignorant of their sins. Perhaps we may think that if we keep quiet about sinfulness, we can wash our hands of the consequences as Pilate attempted to do; yet we are to avoid even the appearance of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22). We must also strive to ensure that we do not approve of sin in others (Romans 1:32) and that not even the hint of impurity is considered of us (Ephesians 5:3-5).
5. We must warn of the dangers of living in sin. Many of us are Christians today because we were warned by someone of the danger of being lost in our sins without Christ’s precious gift of salvation. Should we not share such good tidings to others who may die in their sins? God has warned His people of the consequences of sin through His prophets and leaders (II Kings 17:13, Nehemiah 9:29, Psalm 81:8). Ezekiel was told in Ezekiel 3:18-19 that if God said to him that someone would die due to their sins but he did not warn the person, he would be held accountable for the man’s blood. Paul made it his daily task to warn the church to be on guard (Acts 20:31) and advised them to warn brethren of their sin (II Thessalonians 3:15).
7. Sometimes people react strongly because they have been touched by the Word. Note the reason that Stephen’s audience turned on him and attacked: “they were cut to the heart”. Peter’s listeners were cut to the heart as well, but they repented and obeyed the gospel. In Stephen's case, when the people heard his message, they reacted by killing him. We are told to look in the mirror and face our own faults, confessing them and renouncing them (Proverbs 28:13, II Corinthians 13:5, James 5:16). Many people do not feel comfortable admitting their weaknesses and therefore may react negatively to the Word that we share just as Stephen’s listeners did. Sadly, the more often they squelch their feelings of being “cut to the heart”, the more likely their consciences will be seared so that they feel nothing as was the case in Timothy’s day (I Timothy 4:2). If we have revealed the gospel and are ridiculed, we must remember that it is Christ who is rejected and not us personally (Luke 10:16, I Thessalonians 4:8). We must do our part to share the good news so that, just as Ezekiel was told in Ezekiel 3:19, we will be saved regardless of the hearer’s action.
8. We must be willing to be persecuted or even die for Jesus if we find ourselves in a similar situation. We are warned in 2 Timothy 3:12 that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” so it should not come as a surprise when we find ourselves being ridiculed or tormented because we teach the truth. Peter wrote as much in I Peter 4:12: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” We have been warned that we will be persecuted so when that time comes, if our faith is not strong enough to handle the difficulty, our hearts will be as the seed in Jesus’ parable that had no root and could not withstand affliction or persecution (Mark 4:17).
May we never be known as “fair weather” Christians. Though surely no one looks forward to discomfort (even Jesus was in anguish as He prayed in the garden before He was arrested), we can rejoice in the promise that we will be rewarded if we accept persecution for righteousness’ sake. Let us remember the words of Paul in Romans 8:35-38: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Dear sisters, is this not worth anything that can happen to us as we share the beautiful news that Jesus Christ saves? I hope that you have enjoyed this study of Stephen’s sermon as I have. May we follow the examples of these godly men as their faith led them to many acts of courage in Christ’s name. God bless you and your families this week!
