Implications of Stephen’s Sermon January 28, 2018 San Angelo, TX

Acts 7:55-56  But he [Stephen], 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!”

Acts 6:12-13 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against (1) this holy place and (2) the law.

CHARGES AGAINST STEPHEN “This Holy Place” “The Law”

Acts 6:14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy (1) this place and change the (2) customs which Moses delivered to us.” 

CHARGES AGAINST STEPHEN “customs which Moses delivered to us” “This Holy Place” “this place” Jerusalem Temple “The Law” “customs which Moses delivered to us” Law of Moses The Scriptures JESUS OF NAZARETH

CHARGES AGAINST STEPHEN LOCATION OBEDIENCE JESUS OF NAZARETH

Stephen’s Topics Call of Abraham The Patriarchs in Egypt Israel Delivered by Moses Rebellion in the Wilderness God’s True Tabernacle Israel Resists the Holy Spirit Let us quickly review the high points with an eye towards LOCATION and OBEDIENCE.

Call of Abraham LOCATION Mesopotamia Haran Why did Abraham and his father go to Haran? OBEDIENCE “Leave your country and your relatives and come to a land I will show you.” Obedience leads to blessing.

The Patriarchs in Egypt LOCATION Canaan Egypt Shechem Why mention these locations? OBEDIENCE Despite negative circumstances, always trust God. Obedience trusts the providence of God.

Israel Delivered by Moses LOCATION Egypt Midian Mount Sinai Wilderness Wherever God is, the ground is holy. OBEDIENCE Moses, whom they rejected, was the one God sent to be a ruler and a judge. Obedience allows for deliverance.

Rebellion in the Wilderness LOCATION Wilderness Babylon Why were the people not allowed in or to stay in the Promised Land? OBEDIENCE Then God turned and gave them up to false worship. Obedience requires true worship.

God’s True Tabernacle LOCATION Wilderness Promised Land Jerusalem (Solomon’s House) Where is the house you will build me? OBEDIENCE Tabernacle (God) Temple (Man) Obedience means following God’s pattern.

Israel Resists the Holy Spirit LOCATION Israel How were the prophets in Israel treated? OBEDIENCE You always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did. Obedience requires acceptance of the Just One.

Acts 7:52-53 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One (Jesus of Nazareth) , of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

CHARGES AGAINST STEPHEN LOCATION OBEDIENCE JESUS OF NAZARETH

Acts 7:54-56 When they heard these things they were 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!”

IMPLICATIONS OF STEPHEN’S SERMON The anger towards Stephen led to his stoning by the Jewish leaders. His death started a chain of events that would result in the spreading of the church and the gospel.

Acts 7:57-58; 8:1 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. Now Saul was consenting to his death.

Acts 7:59-60 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.

Saul of Tarsus No doubt, this event weighed heavily on his conscience. The most prominent writer of the New Testament was “consenting” to the death of Stephen – possibly a reference to being the “officer in charge” of the execution. No doubt, this event weighed heavily on his conscience. St. Augustine: "the Church owes St. Paul to the prayer of St. Stephen".

Acts 8:1-2 At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

Acts 1:8 Words of the Resurrected Jesus: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jerusalem 2. Judea 3. Samaria 4. End of the earth

CONCLUSION Location and Obedience were at the core of Stephen’s sermon – it was not just a history lesson! The sermon was very well crafted and subtle. The faith of Stephen was no doubt a factor in the eventual conversion of Saul of Tarsus The death of Stephen helped to initiate the movement of the church throughout Judea, Samaria and the rest of the world