Tuesday, November 9 - Miriam

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Acts 6-8:1.

I read the passage and was a little bit disappointed with some of it, at first, because it seemed like a condensed version of the Old Testament, delivered in the form of a sermon. Then I read a sermon by Bob Deffinbaugh The Stoning of Stephen and learned more about what he was saying and why, and what it meant to the people who heard it. I didn't see anything in it that would incite a riot, but I learned better.

Stephen, essentially, was an apostle himself. Not one of the 12 who were with Jesus and witnessed his life, his signs and miracles, and so on, but an apostle of God's choosing nonetheless, as evidenced by the fact that he was "a man full of God’s grace and power, {who} performed great wonders and signs among the people." As Mr. Deffinbaugh points out, up until this point only apostles performed signs and wonders.

Every indication is that both Stephen and the apostles were surprised by his ability to perform such miracles. It was not because Stephen “prayed through” or went through the right formula that he was empowered by the Spirit as he was. Neither was it because of the apostles, of their training, of discipleship, or ordination that these signs and wonders were performed. The simplest explanation for the mighty power which Stephen possessed was that the sovereign God had purposed to make him an apostle, in His own time, and in His own way.

Basically, there were false witnesses brought in to testify to two primary charges: Stephen was speaking against “the holy place,” and he was advocating an alteration of the customs handed down by Moses.

Stephen’s sermon is his inspired response to these two primary charges pertaining to Jerusalem and the temple as the “holy place” and to the customs of Moses. As Stephen led his accusers on their trek through the history of Israel, he was seeking to demonstrate two fundamental concepts: (1) The history of Israel bears out the fact that much of the life of the Jews was spent outside of the land; and, (2) that for all their smug self-righteousness, Israel had always shown themselves to be rebels against Moses and against the Law which was given through him. Consequently, as we work our way through Stephen’s sermon, we will cover many generations of Israelites, a number of well-known Old Testament personalities and places, and a good number of years. All of this will demonstrate that the conclusion which Stephen reached and preached was irrefutable and well-documented.

They (the Jews of Stephen's day) knew that the Messiah would come to Jerusalem and would reign as King from His holy temple. They thought that Israel, Jerusalem, and the temple were all necessities for the kingdom to come. No wonder these Hellenistic Jews were willing to give up all that they possessed to reach the “holy place.” How blasphemous it must have seemed to them to hear Jesus (first), the apostles, and now Stephen speaking of the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem. They understood this as a rejection of the kingdom. With the dashing of Jerusalem, all of their messianic hopes were dashed as well.

The problem, however, was that their understanding of the kingdom, and of how it was to be established on earth, was wrong. Indeed, in the context of this quotation of Isaiah 66:1-2, several important truths are revealed. First, God would bring judgment upon Jerusalem and the temple. Second, that God would bring salvation to the Gentiles. Third, when God came to the earth to establish His kingdom, He would create a new Jerusalem and a new temple. Israel’s man-made temple would be destroyed along with the city of Jerusalem. God would create His own Jerusalem and His own temple, which He would bring down from heaven. The destruction of Jerusalem and the demolition of the temple was not a rejection of the kingdom, or a hindrance, but a prerequisite to it. This was a necessary step, clear the ground as it were, so that God’s temple could be brought to the earth. God is not a remodeler. He will destroy the old earth and the old heavens so that the new heavens and earth may come.

There is considerably more in the commentary about Stephen's sermon, but I want to skip now to the stoning. Basically, the sermon (notably, the longest sermon in the book of Acts) caused the people to become a rabid mob. The NASB says they were "cut to the quick" - meaning he struck a nerve. But rather than reasonably acknowledging that Stephen hadn't said anything untrue in his historical recitation, they mob mentality took over. They gnashed their teeth, rushed him, drove him out of the city, and stoned him. And yet, Stephen was peaceful. In the chaotic atmosphere of an enraged mob, he was tranquil. He looked forward to going to be with God, and asked for forgiveness for those who sinned against him. This, if you were unconvinced by anything else, should convince you that Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. How much less could he show the typical human nature? Human nature says fight back. Defend yourself against accusation. And if you can't fight back, at least wish doom and destruction on those who hurt you. Tell them "What goes around comes around." Think to yourself "Someday they'll get what's coming to them!" No. The Spirit says "Pray for them." "Forgive them."

In the developing argument of the Book of Acts, the sermon and the stoning of Stephen is very significant. It is a transition point, as we can see, marking the end of one era and the beginning of another. It is the end of the “Jerusalem phase” and the beginning of the “Samarian phase.” Soon, with the conversion of Saul, the gospel will spread to the “remotest part of the earth.” But for now, God’s dealings with the city of Jerusalem are winding down. The apostles will remain, we are told, but the church is dispersed. The time for the destruction of Jerusalem draws near. The reason for the destruction of Israel is apparent in Stephen’s message and even in his own death. His sermon, much like the ministry of Isaiah the prophet (cf. Isaiah 6), was not intended to turn men to repentance but to seal their doom. The judgment of God on Jerusalem is not far off, and for very good reason. Now that the gospel has been preached to the Jew first, it will go to the Gentiles. (emphasis mine)

Bob (if I can call him Bob) goes on to list three application of today's reading to us. The second application really stood out to me.

Second, the “dying grace” that is evident in Stephen’s death can be ours as well. How often we pray that we will not die or that our death would be painless and quick. Stephen’s death should challenge us here. We should pray for grace that our death will be a glimpse of heaven, and our dying thoughts should be for the salvation of men around us. May our death, like Stephen’s, be a glorious event, regardless of the circumstances, for it is our entrance into the glorious presence of our Savior, who is still standing at the right hand of the Father, awaiting us. (emphasis mine)

Tomorrow's passage: Acts 8-9:43