By
Randall L. Broad
Read: 1 Kings 8:1-66;
Acts 7:51-8:13; Psalm 129:1-8; Proverbs 17:1
Today’s reading ends the
narrative of Stephen and begins the story of the man who will persecute the
church relentlessly, be converted on the road to Damascus, and become the main
character throughout the second half of the Book of Acts. Both men are
significant personalities in the story of the early church. One is considered
Christ’s first martyr and the other through his life and work greatly influences
the theology and practices of the Church.
Today’s highlights the
point in which their lives intersect.
We first encountered
Stephen three days ago in our reading when the Church was forced to deal with
the complaint of the Hellenistic Jews their widows were not receiving a fair
share of the daily distribution of food
(v. 6:1-6). Stephen is one of the seven men selected as overseers to handle the
situation so the Apostle can dedicate themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word (v. 6:4). Not much is known
of Stephen’s life or ministry outside of the narrative found in the Book of
Acts (vv. 6:1-7:59). Verse five tells us he was “a man full of faith
and of the Holy Spirit (v. 6:5). Other verses tell us Stephen did great
wonders and signs among the people which earned their favor (v. 6:8), but his
teachings in the synagogue of the Libertines (or Freedmen in some translations)
incurred the wrath of the Diaspora Jews in Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and
Asia (vv. 6:9-10). Unable to dispute Stephen in open debate they resorted to
deceit bringing him before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem (vv. 6:11-14).
Standing
before the Sanhedrin, Stephen delivers a long exhortation which composes most
of the narrative (vv. 7:1-50) preceding today’s reading. But today, in verse
fifty-one, he concludes by declaring:
51“You stiff-necked people!
Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors:
You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52Was there ever a prophet your
ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of
the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53you
who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed
it.”
Acts
7:51-53
The passage is
spoken in strong exclamatory language by a man filled with conviction, faith,
and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts does not tell us so, but if
Saul was present at the stoning he was also probably present as Stephen
delivered his exhortation before the Sanhedrin. Saul must have seen much of
himself in the fiery evangelist. Both men were impassioned by their faith; both
men possessed a marvelous power over men, and they had unbound confidence in
themselves. They both believed they were on a providential mission as servants
of God and they both were bold, aggressive, and systematic seekers of ultimate
truth. But at the end of this day–Stephen would be martyred and Saul would
unleash his rage upon the church.
54When the members of the
Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But
Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God,
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56“Look,” he said, “I
see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57At this they covered their
ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged
him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their
coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were stoning
him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then he fell
on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he
had said this, he fell asleep.
1And Saul approved of their
killing him.
On that day a great persecution broke out
against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered
throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned
deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from
house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Acts 7:54-8:3
There is one significant aspect
to Stephen’s exhortation that must be explained. The Sanhedrin acted under the
authority of the Mosaic Law when they stoned Stephen which decreed punishment
for people who committed blaspheme (c.f. Leviticus 24:14, 16; Deuteronomy 13:9,
17:7; 1 Kings 21:13). To those rooted in the traditions of Mosaic Law,
Stephen’s words were blaspheming when he declared their hearts to be
uncircumcised, resistant to the Holy Spirit, and filled with disobedience. Stephen was talking about a whole new
revelation of God which they could not accept or truly understand.
“The
gospel was offered now, not by angels, but from the Holy Ghost; yet they did
not embrace it for they had resolved not to comply with God, either in his law
or in his gospel. Their guilt stung them to the heart, and they sought relief
in murdering their reprover, instead of sorrow and supplication for mercy.”[1]
In short, we can wonder
what a man of Stephen’s intellect and faith might have accomplished had he not
been selected as a martyr by God, but there is no way to really know and so we
are left to ponder the majesty of God’s grand design. Throughout the rest of
the year, the man named Saul who stood and watched as they stoned Stephen will
be with us as we explore his life, Christology, and his understanding of the
Spirit-filled life.
Walk
with the Lord …
Ephesians
1:17
(RLB250611)
©
Copyright 2017: Randall L. Broad
Disclaimer: This commentary is written by Randall L. Broad. It is in no way affiliated with or represents any denomination, university, church, or pastor. Any errors or omissions are purely my responsibility.
[1]
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Concise
Commentary on the Whole Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997: 1030-31.
