INTRODUCTION

1. A new set of leaders

a) This was needed

b) A group of Seven was identified

2. The Initial impact

a) The Apostles were able to devote the needed time and attention to their ministry

b) The church grew further

 

THE FOCUS ON STEPHEN

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen

(Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.

10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Acts 6:8-10

1. Outstanding features of his life

a) Full of faith

b) And power

2. Additional features

a) Did great wonders and signs

b) This was way beyond what the Apostles had expected

c) God’s Spirit was obviously upon Stephen

3. Opposition faced

a) The Synagogue of the Freedmen

b) Its members disputed with Stephen

i) Cyrenians

ii) Alexandrians

iii) And those from Cilicia

iv) And Asia Minor

c) They failed in their disputes

 

FALSE CHARGES AGAINST STEPHEN

11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.

13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;

14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”

15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel. Acts 6:11-15

1. Resorting to lies

a) False witnesses

b) False charges were made

c) Stephen accused of blasphemy

d) He was arrested and charged

2. The charges against Stephen

a) This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place

b) And the law;

c) We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place

d) And change the customs which Moses delivered to us. Acts 6:13-14

3. How would Stephen plead?

 

A LONG DEFENCE

44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed,

instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen,

45 which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into

the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David,

46 who found favour before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built Him a house.

48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

49 ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool.

What house will you build for Me? says the LORD,

Or what is the place of My rest? Acts 7:44-49

1. Stephen’s defence was a strong one Acts 7

2. He was unfazed by all the false charges made against him

3. He spoke clearly and courageously

 

THE FIRST MARTYR

54 When they heard these things they were [h]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;

58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,

“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:54-60

1. Stephen continued to be full of the Holy Spirit

2. He caught a glimpse of the glory of heaven

3. The Sanhedrin Council

a) Stephen was condemned

b) He was stoned to death

4. Stephen’s witness

a) He prayed with full assurance in the Lord

b) He followed the Lord Jesus in forgiving his enemies

 

CONCLUSION

1. We need such men today

a) Strong

b) Steadfast

c) Suffering for the Lord courageously

2. Our Challenge

a) To be full of faith and wisdom

b) To be full of the Holy Spirit