Session 9: The Stones

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

Coming soon.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Acts 6:1–8:4
• Scripture Memory - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
• Catechism - Q: What kind of treatment should Christians expect from the world? A: Persecution.

Introduction

Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

The church of Christ has been founded by shedding its own blood not that of others, by enduring outrage not by inflicting it. Persecutions have made it grow; martyrdoms have crowned it.

Amazingly, Christianity thrives under hostile conditions. From the time of the earliest disciples to the present day, Christians have faced opposition and persecution for their faith. Rather than cowering to their opponents’ threats and ultimatums, Christians have persevered through hardship and maintained a faithful witness to Jesus. The experience of suffering and hardship is not something foreign to Jesus. During his time on earth, he experienced rejection, animosity, affliction, and crucifixion. As the forerunner to our faith, Jesus experienced far greater suffering than any of his disciples. Jesus invites his disciples to a life of imitation: following in the steps of Jesus in his ministry and suffering.

Although the prospect of suffering might seem like a deterrent to Christianity, the crucible of persecution and opposition tests and strengthens genuine faith in Christ. While hardship has caused many to abandon their initial commitments to Christ, true believers maintain a faithful devotion to Christ in the face of suffering. Said simply, being a Christian involves full and complete commitment to Jesus. Jesus invites his disciples to display this commitment not only by preaching the gospel message but also by doing so in the face of rejection, hostility, and mistreatment. While facing opposition may require many years of enduring hardship, it may also culminate in martyrdom: people dying for their faith in Christ. Not only is Jesus our perfect example to follow, but the Bible also preserves compelling records of sacrificial witness.

The narrative recorded in Acts 6:1–8:4 highlights the rigorous commitment involved in bearing witness to Jesus. Through the appointment of godly leadership and an attention to holistic ministry, the first disciples formed a community of good works as an instrument to perpetuate the spread of the gospel and to care for its own members. A man named Stephen was one of these core leaders. He not only served needy people within the Christian community, but he also boldly proclaimed the gospel. Filled with the Spirit’s power, Stephen encountered intense opposition to his preaching. In the face of this hostility, Stephen clearly articulated the truth of the gospel, showing that the whole biblical narrative points to Jesus. In response to his courageous preaching, a violent crowd stoned Stephen to death. Persecution, hostility, and opposition then spread to the Christian community. This not only caused Jesus’ disciples to scatter, but it also caused the gospel to spread abroad.

Throughout the centuries, Christians have demonstrated the same courageous faith as Stephen. Intrinsic to the life of a disciple is the duty of Christian witness, even if it results in martyrdom. The importance of a holistic ministry—faithful preaching and loving good deeds—should mark the witness of the Christian community. Christians must expect opposition when they clearly share the gospel message. Many will lose their lives in doing this work. Nevertheless, the hope of eternal life and the promise of the worldwide spread of the gospel can sustain Christian witness in the harshest situations. May this precious biblical narrative provide comfort and inspiration as you and your community take up the mantle of Christian witness.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

God calls his people to Christian witness by the community of faith practicing good works and bold/sacrificial preaching of the gospel in the face of persecution.

Passage Overview

The gospel thrives in harsh conditions, not because humans have an inherent resilience but because God is determined for the gospel to spread to the whole earth. God will display his full glory and immense power as the gospel advances despite (and even because of) opposition and persecution. The early church demonstrated care for the needs of its own members as it simultaneously committed to the spread of the gospel among the lost. Stephen, courageous and undeterred, also had a holistic ministry, ministering to people through miracles and preaching the message about Christ. His commitment to preach the gospel faithfully resulted in his martyrdom. As we consider this narrative about the witness of the early church and Stephen, we must consider how we can embrace such a bold witness for Christ. In doing so, we are embracing our call to discipleship. Study this biblical story with the help of the following commentary as a means to consider how you can grow in your courage to share Christ boldly and sacrificially.

Passage Outline

Sacrificial Witness

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.

The oftener we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed.

Introduction

A core foundation of the Christian life is sacrificial devotion. Pioneering the work of redemption, no one performed a greater act of sacrifice than Jesus. Indeed, no one endured greater pain and affliction than Jesus. Dismissed and rejected by many, Jesus experienced hostile opposition to his ministry of love and grace. Betrayed by one of his own disciples and rejected by his own creation, Jesus endured great tribulation during his life on earth. Falsely accused and violently mistreated, Jesus voluntarily submitted himself to the wicked caprice of humanity. Suffering and dying for the salvation of sinners, Jesus offered his life as a sacrifice for others.

Through sacrifice, Jesus accomplished salvation for the lost. Inasmuch as Jesus’ sacrifice is a means of our salvation, it is also an example for disciples’ lives. Following the example of Jesus, Christians are called to represent Jesus in the face of persecution and mistreatment. Opposition should be an expected and assumed experience of Christian witness. Rather than being discouraged or dismayed, Christians are called to face persecution with faithful courage and Spirit-empowered resolve. Thankfully, God has not been silent on this very important topic.

Studying Acts 6:1–8:4, we contemplate the sacrificial witness of the early church and one particular Christian leader, Stephen. In this narrative, we witness the early church leveraging its resources to care for the material needs of its members. Functioning as a community of good works and gospel proclamation, the church as a whole was a witness of Jesus to the surrounding society. Stephen’s holistic ministry involved serving the needy, performing miracles, and preaching the gospel. In the face of opposition, he clarified God’s work of salvation throughout history with a detailed message. After his opponents stoned Stephen to death, the Christian community experienced targeted persecution, which led to many Christians scattering. Incredibly, the gospel continued to spread despite (and even because of) this fierce persecution.

The example of the early church’s community life should help us see that gospel witness is a whole community affair. In fact, the generous and caring activity of Christians caring for other Christians is a powerful testimony of the good news to the watching world. From this context of a loving church community, people are called to give verbal proclamation of the gospel. Some will be sent on preaching missions; others will share Jesus with people in the natural course of their life journey. Regardless of their life station, all Christians should expect opposition and persecution to their evangelistic work. Knowing that the stakes are of eternal consequence and the divine power is amply supplied for all God’s people, believers step into the painful and sacrificial duty of Christian witness with bold confidence that God is with them and for them in this great work.

And the Word of God Increased: Enjoying the Powerful Witness of Community Life

Biblical Narrative (Acts 6:1–7)

During the early days of the church, many people were coming to faith in Jesus. Through the faithful preaching of the gospel, “the disciples were increasing in number” (6:1). As the Christian community grew, it became difficult to meet all of the needs of its members. At this time, “the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food” (6:1). As the community cared for its vulnerable widowed members, certain ethnicities were not getting the full care they needed. The core leaders of the church recognized the importance of caring for all church members. But they also knew they bore a responsibility to continue preaching the word to others. The church agreed that it was “unacceptable for [the apostles] to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables” (6:2).

In response to this crisis, the church decided to identify “seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (6:3). These men would be responsible for the duty—“this responsibility” (6:3)—making sure all widowed members received proper care and provision. By taking care of the widows in this way, these seven leaders would allow the apostolic leaders to devote themselves “to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (6:4). The whole congregation agreed that this was a good idea (6:5). They selected seven men—Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus (6:5)—to care for the community needs. Exemplifying the godly character of the whole group, Stephen was known to be “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (6:5).

The church presented these men to the apostolic leaders as a chosen group of leaders, and they “prayed and laid their hands on them” (6:6). As a result of this solution, the church continued to grow. We learn that “the word of God continued to spread” and “the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly” (6:7). So impactful was the church’s witness in this city that “a great number of priests became obedient to the faith” (6:7). In an amazing display of community witness, the whole church participated in the evangelistic task by caring for its own members, enabling the continued preaching of the gospel.

Biblical Principles

Witness of Community Life. While the early church devotedly embraced its evangelistic duty, it also dutifully took care of its own members. These two interrelated aims—a loving community of care and an outward gospel proclamation—must always be held together as tandem values of Christian witness. While they may seem to focus on opposite goals, these aims are actually mutually interdependent. The church is both the goal and means of gospel witness. On the one hand, sustainable care of community members enables the church to focus on evangelistic work. As a church matures to care for its own members, leaders are freed up to work for the further spread of the gospel. On the other hand, the work of evangelism helps to build the church as a thriving and vibrant faith community. A church matures as new members are added to the life of the community.

Certainly, taking care of members of the Christian community is a vital Christian responsibility. In fact, the narrative itself calls it a “responsibility” (6:3). However, more than a mere incidental activity to the Christian life or a peripheral task to evangelism, community care is an intrinsic part of Christian witness. As much as the gospel is a call to faith in Christ and repentance of sin, the good news of the gospel is also an invitation into a faith community. If not addressed, the complaint by the Hellenist, Grecian Jews, and neglect of some of its widowed members would have negatively affected the impact of the gospel message (6:1). A divisive, disorganized, and uncaring community impugns the witness of the gospel. On the contrary, a loving, sacrificial, and generous community displays the beauty of the gospel message. In this way, a community of good works—generously caring for the needs of one another—is a powerful witness to the truthfulness of the gospel. People long to be a part of a community of relationships where needs are met through generous and sacrificial sharing.

By appointing other leaders to care for the widows, the early church resolved another practical issue: the core leaders responsible for preaching the gospel would be able to preach more often. No longer providing immediate oversight to the widows’ care, these apostolic leaders could be occupied with more evangelistic work. This evangelistic work—“the word of God” (6:2) and “the ministry of the word” (6:4)—would be lessened if the core leaders focused on providing for the widows’ needs. A church can participate in the evangelistic work by attentively caring for its own members through loving good works. This frees up other leaders to do focused and itinerant evangelistic work, and it makes the gospel itself attractive by showcasing its beauty in the loving, generous relationships of church members. As evidence of the spread of the gospel, the narrative records the growth of the church, as the gospel spread and disciples multiplied (6:7). Truly, the evangelistic task is a responsibility of the whole church.

Apostolic Teams and Secondary Leadership. Unwilling to neglect multifaceted Christian duties, the early church adopted a creative solution to its dilemma: multiply leaders within the community (6:3–4). Choosing men of righteous character, Spirit-dependence, godly wisdom, and devout faith, the church expanded its ministry capacity (6:3, 5). Where godly leaders exist, they should be entrusted with ministry responsibility. Where there is a lack of godly leadership, disciples need to be trained. Leadership development is a means of caring for the increased ministry needs within the community and supporting the work of strategic evangelism.

In the early church, leaders functioned as teams. Both the existing apostolic leaders—called “the Twelve” (6:2)—and the seven newly appointed leaders—identified as “seven men” (6:3) assigned to focus on a particular duty—operated as teams of leaders. God never intended ministry responsibility to rest on the shoulders of one leader. Faithful participation in God’s work is likely to yield increased ministry needs. To remain invested in the church’s expansion while tending to its internal integrity, churches should take seriously the training, testing, and deployment of emerging leaders as ministry teams. Not only will these teams ease ministry burdens, but they will enable the ministry to continue when people face hostile and violent opposition.

Stirred Up People: Experiencing Inevitable Opposition to the Faith

Biblical Narrative (Acts 6:8–7:1)

Although Stephen was one of the chosen leaders to care for the needs of community members, this did not mean Stephen neglected his preaching responsibility. Stephen was “full of grace and power” and was “performing great wonders and signs among the people” (6:8). In the course of his ministry, some people opposed Stephen: “Resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen,” who “began to argue with Stephen” (6:9). This mounting opposition, however, did not discourage or undermine Stephen’s witness. As Stephen spoke with divine enablement, his opponents “could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke” (6:10). Clearly, Stephen’s ministry was holistic: overseeing community well-being, performing miraculous signs, and giving verbal testimony to the Christian faith.

As a result, the men who resisted Stephen instigated people to bring false accusations against him (6:11). These false witnesses said that Stephen spoke “words of blasphemy against Moses and against God” (6:11). The seriousness of these false allegations showed how threatened people were by Stephen and his gospel ministry. This voiced opposition did not remain within a small group of dissidents. Resorting to slander, “they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes” (6:12). Using their positions of authority against Stephen (and against the Christian faith), they “seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin” (6:12). Desiring to charge him with wrongdoing, they “presented false witnesses” who said that Stephen “never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law” (6:13). Specifying their accusation, these false witnesses claimed that Stephen’s message about Jesus was a threat to the temple and Jewish tradition: “We have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us” (6:14). Before an audience of Jewish authorities, these allegations were severe and warranted great punishment.

During this time, a miraculous event occurred. The appearance of Stephen dramatically changed. As a sign that God was with him (and recalling Jesus’ own transfiguration), Stephen’s “face was like the face of an angel” (6:15). Allowing Stephen an opportunity to speak, the high priest asked him if the accusations being made about him were true. At this moment, Stephen was offered a platform to bear witness to the gospel. Although he faced repeated and public mistreatment, Stephen maintained his firm and bold commitment to the gospel, regardless of the impact on his own security and life.

Biblical Principles

Holistic Ministry. Of particular note is Stephen’s multifaceted ministry. Already assigned to oversee the care of the widows (cf. 6:1–6), Stephen was now performing “great wonders and signs among the people” (6:8) while he was engaging his opponents in verbal disputation (6:9–10). There was a clear integration of work and word in Stephen’s ministry service. Mirroring the church’s holistic ministry, Stephen’s ministry was also full-orbed: caring for the needs of widows, performing powerful miracles, and professing the truth of the Christian faith. Christian witness is powerful when ministry deeds and gospel proclamation are rightly dovetailed together: good works providing a context and credible defense for witness through the spoken word and the preached gospel, enfleshed and embodied by loving acts of service.

Spirit-Empowered Witness. The Holy Spirit empowered Stephen’s ministry. Completely dependent upon God’s divine enablement, Stephen was “full of grace and power” (6:8) and decisively contended for the faith with “wisdom” and “the Spirit” (6:10). Additionally, as a sign of God’s favor upon Stephen, his face transfigured into the likeness of an angel (6:15) as he appeared before the council of his accusers. No human can venture into the work of Christian witness by personal strength or human ingenuity. All human power and wisdom are fragile before the fierce opponents of the Christian faith. But, empowered by the Spirit, the weakest human vessel (a simple, sincere disciple willing to represent Jesus regardless of the threat to his life) is a formidable contender for the faith.

So compelling was Stephen’s ministry that it stirred up the attention of his opponents (6:9, 11–14). Even though they opposed him (6:9) and could not refute him (6:10), they were fixated on his transfigured face (6:15). Spirit-empowered witness has an irresistible appeal, even garnering the attention of its opponents. Unable to undercut ministry in the Spirit’s power, people must succumb to outlandish and unfounded accusations against the faith. Many times, the very accusations against Christianity turn out to bring more credibility to the gospel. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Christians boldly represent Christ through holistic ministry.

Targeted Opposition. Stephen experienced mistreatment, maligning, and malicious slander against him. People argued with Stephen (6:9), instigated people against him (6:11, 12), arrested him (6:13), placed him on trial (6:13), and set false witnesses against him (6:11, 13–14). More than a mere arousal of public disapproval, they “stirred up” both the people and Jewish leaders against him (6:12). Stephen experienced opposition that was public and concerted. Throughout the history of the church, Christians have been targeted because of their faith. Each disciple and church must prepare to live as a minority and marginalized people in the world.

Christians should expect opposition to their ministry. Especially if their ministry is holistic—caring for physical needs and announcing the gospel message—the community of the faith will stir up people who are antagonistic and hostile to Christianity. This opposition can take many forms: maligning one’s reputation, arguing against the faith, spreading rumors and false accusations, wrongfully imprisoning disciples, and even threatening one’s physical well-being. More often the rule than the exception, Christians who faithfully bear witness to Jesus commonly experience ramifications such as these. While God will not only provide strength for his people to endure such hardships, he will also use the plots and schemes of these opponents and turn them into platforms for powerful gospel testimony.

Prophetic Preaching: Announcing Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Old Testament

Biblical Narrative (Acts 7:1–53)

Given the opportunity to speak (7:1), Stephen addressed his audience with a lengthy narrative of redemptive history. He began speaking about God revealing himself to Abraham (7:2), calling him out of his homeland to enter into a land of promise (7:3). Stephen recounted how Abraham journeyed to this land (7:4). This land was called Canaan and would later be the promised land God gave the Israelites as a homeland. Although Abraham had no inheritance in the land and no child to occupy it for him, God still promised that Abraham and his descendants would possess this land (7:5). God told Abraham that it would take many years for God’s promise to come to fruition. Abraham’s descendants would be slaves in Egypt for “four hundred years” and become “foreigners in a strange land” (7:6). Despite what would seem to be a failure of God’s promise, God would rescue his people from slavery (7:7) and establish them in the promised land (7:7). God formed a covenant relationship with Abraham—signifying this covenant through the rite of circumcision—as a guarantee of his covenant with Abraham and his offspring (7:8).

Stephen went on to narrate that eventually, Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, had twelve children who became the fathers, or “patriarchs” (7:8), of the Israelite people. In a display of jealousy against one of these children, the others sold their brother Joseph to be a slave in Egypt (7:9). Even though such a circumstance seemed like the end of Joseph, “God was with him” (7:9) and God “rescued him from all his troubles” (7:10). True to his promises, God caused Joseph to thrive in a difficult situation and Joseph became ruler over Egypt and the Egyptian king’s household (7:10). When a famine struck the land of Egypt and Canaan (7:11), Joseph’s estranged brothers came to Egypt seeking help and God used the ironic circumstances to provide for his family (7:12–14).

Eventually, Jacob died (7:15) and was buried in a small plot of the promised land that Abraham had purchased (7:16). Back in Egypt, the descendants of Abraham (Joseph and his brothers) “increased greatly in number” (7:17; cf. 6:1, 7) and became slaves to Egyptian masters. Another Egyptian king arose who treated the Israelites harshly (7:18–19), even decreeing the death of Israelite children (7:19). But God did not abandon his promise or his people. God raised up an Israelite named Moses. God miraculously protected him at the time of his birth, and he was raised by the daughter of Egypt’s king (7:20–21). All of this only God could orchestrate.

Moses grew in “all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action” (7:22). When he was forty years of age, he murdered a man in defense of a fellow Israelite (7:23–24). This caused Moses to flee to a land called Midian for forty years (7:25–29). After this time, God appeared to Moses through a bush that was burning but not burning up (7:30). Seeing the power and holiness of God, Moses was amazed (7:31) and afraid (7:32). God revealed himself to Moses (7:32), telling him that he had “seen the oppression” of his people and had “heard their groaning” (7:34) and would rescue them from their Egyptian bondage. God used Moses as “ruler and judge” (7:35) to bring the Israelites out of Egypt through miraculous signs (7:36).

After being delivered from Egypt, the Israelites sojourned in the wilderness for forty years (7:36). Moses prophesied that God would raise up a prophet like himself for his people (7:37). Nevertheless, the Israelites rejected Moses, disobeyed God, and turned to idolatry (7:39–41). Consequently, God “turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven” (7:42) even though they experienced God’s presence and power (7:44–45). God allowed the Israelites to be given over to self-destructive idolatry (7:42–43). Eventually, God raised up David to be Israel’s king (7:45). King David “found favor in the sight of God” (7:46). He planned to build a dwelling for God, but it was his son, Solomon, who constructed the temple (7:46–47). Even though the Israelites built a temple for God, the Scriptures made it clear that God does not need a house for a dwelling (7:49–50).

After narrating Israel’s history from Abraham and the patriarchs to David and the kings, Stephen spoke a direct rebuke against his listeners. He told them that they were a “stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears” who “always resist the Holy Spirit” (7:51). Stephen compared the people he addressed to the ancient Israelites (7:51). Not only did the ancient Israelites persecute God’s prophets, but the Jews of that day killed the Messiah (7:52). The very people who received the law yet disobeyed God were the people who rejected and killed God’s promised Messiah (7:52–53).

Biblical Principles

Testimony of Defense. Through certain comments in his speech, Stephen addressed the charges of blasphemy against God, Mosaic Law, and the temple (cf. 6:11, 13–14). Addressing the charge of blasphemy, Stephen was quick to honor God as “the God of glory” (7:2) and rightly affirmed, “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (7:32) as the true and living God. Further, Stephen denounced Israel’s false worship (7:39–43) and also recounted the holy (7:32–33), compassionate (7:34), and righteous (7:52) character of God. Defending his innocence and respect for God’s law, Stephen reminded his audience of Israel’s historic disobedience (7:39, 53) and esteemed God’s law as “living words” (7:38) which were “ordained by angels” (7:53). Ultimately, Stephen accused his accusers of being guilty before God (7:51).

Honoring the temple’s place in God’s redemptive work, Stephen recounted the efforts of David and Solomon to build the temple (7:46), while reminding his audience that God does not need humans to build him an abode (7:48–50). Challenging their accusations, Stephen reminded his listeners that they were “now living” (7:4) in the land that God promised to Abraham. In this way, the Jews were connected to the ancient Israelites by God’s enduring promises, but they were also much like the ancient Israelites in their disobedience, sinfulness, and rejection of God (7:51–53). In this sense, Stephen’s speech was a personal defense that served as a gospel testimony. Christians also have a duty to bear witness to the gospel by defending the gospel. Believers should gain skill in using God’s word to show the integrity of the gospel message. Our own testimony—the story of our conversion to Christ—can also serve this very important work of defending the gospel. Additionally, our sacrificial suffering for the sake of the gospel is a convincing witness that can vindicate the gospel amid skeptics and opponents.

Confrontation of Sin. While Stephen offered elements of a personal defense against the allegations of his accusers, his main agenda was not to acquit himself. Instead, Stephen narrated the sinfulness of humanity, the grave condition of sinful humans, and the masterful plan of God’s salvation. Through the way he recounted the storyline of Israel’s history, Stephen’s speech highlighted humanity’s true condition: filled with envy (7:9), ignorant of the truth (7:25), defiant against God’s law (7:39), unfaithful to God (7:39–41). Concluding his message, Stephen called his audience stubborn, unregenerate, and resistant to the Holy Spirit (7:51). They were guilty of persecuting God’s messengers and killing God’s Messiah (7:52). What Stephen confronted about the desperate human condition is true of those who are outside of Christ. But for those in Christ, we have been rescued from sin and punishment. When we acknowledge our guilt before God and repent of our sin—confessing that we too were hostile opponents of God, the gospel, and God’s people—we are no longer despairing enemies of God but become gloriously reconciled to God.

Desperate Condition. Human sinfulness and idolatry result in grave consequences. Based upon Stephen’s chronological retelling of historical events, God worked out his plan of salvation to liberate those who were enslaved (7:7, 9), rescue those who were afflicted (7:7, 10–11), save those who were oppressed (7:24), defeat those who were wicked (7:19, 45), reconcile those who were estranged (7:9–16; cf. 7:26), and commission those who were exiled (7:29; cf. 7:43). Although God worked in the lives of individual people, he also was working out his overarching plan of salvation throughout all history, connecting personal stories of rescue to a larger redemptive panorama. No matter the severity of a person’s shame, guilt, fear, or exile, God can rescue people who are willing to genuinely receive God’s salvation in their lives.

Plan of Salvation. In his grace, God does not leave sinful humans in their desperate condition. One major focus of Stephen’s speech was the theme of God’s redemptive work. Retelling the Scriptural account as a metanarrative of God’s workings, Stephen showed that God’s redemption was demonstrated through major epochs of Israel’s history. Toward Abraham, God showed himself as a God of promise who would give his people a land (7:3, 5, 16, 17) and multiply his people into a great people (7:5–6, 8, 14, 17, 34). Showcasing the fulfillment of this promise in Abraham’s own life, God brought Abraham out of a land and sent him to the land of Canaan (7:4). God established a covenant with Abraham and his offspring (7:8) and allowed Abraham to purchase a small portion of the land (7:16) as a guarantee that God would fulfill his promises to his people.

God demonstrated his faithful presence toward Joseph (7:9), rescuing him from the life-threatening peril (7:10). God caused Joseph to flourish in wisdom and favor, turning his condition of slavery into a position of influence (7:10). God used Joseph to preserve the life of his family (7:11–16), even preserving the life of the very brothers who betrayed him into slavery. God protected Moses as one “beautiful in the sight of God” (7:20). After God spared Moses from impending death, God gave him instruction, wisdom, and might (7:22, 36) and used him for Israel’s redemption (7:23–25). Toward Israel, God not only wanted to provide salvation to his people (7:25) but also to bring reconciliation between members of his people (7:26–27). While God was the ultimate deliverer for Israel (7:34), he sent Moses as ruler (7:35), deliverer (7:35), and prophet (7:37).

After Israel was liberated from Egypt, God used Joshua to remove idolatry and wickedness from the land (7:45). King David “found favor in the sight of God” (7:46) and shepherded people toward God. As God promised to Abraham, God did work in each generation to judge evil (7:7), deliver his people from affliction (7:6–7), and introduce his people to a life of worship (7:7). All of God’s deeds of deliverance, redemption, rescue, and reconciliation in the past culminated in the work of Jesus, “the Righteous One” who was betrayed and murdered (7:52) by the people he aimed to save. Subtly infused throughout Stephen’s speech is a contiguous narrative of God’s plan of salvation. A discourse with many perspectives, Stephen’s speech testifies to definitive acts of salvation. Christians can take heart, knowing that God offers the gift of salvation to all, and he empowers his children with his Holy Spirit to share this good news.

They Were Enraged: Facing Martyrdom with Courageous Faith

Biblical Narrative (Acts 7:54–60)

In response to Stephen’s message, the people “were enraged” (7:54). Stephen’s compelling and pointed speech evoked so much anger that the people “gnashed their teeth at him” (7:54). Rather than responding in kind or cowering beneath their animus, Stephen was “full of the Holy Spirit” (7:55; cf. 6:3, 5, 8, 10). Fueling his courage and providing evidence of God’s favor upon his servant, Stephen “looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (7:55). Stephen bore testimony to this vision of Jesus and said that he saw “the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (7:56).

Clearly an allusion to the messianic prophecy in Daniel 7:13, Stephen’s confession further enflamed his listeners into a frenzy: “They covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him” (7:57). Because they equated his words with blasphemy, they “dragged him out of the city and began to stone him” (7:57). “A young man named Saul” observed and approved this act of stoning (7:58; cf. 8:1). In response to Stephen’s witness of Christ, this audience became “witnesses” (7:58) of Stephen’s martyrdom. Mirroring Jesus’ crucifixion, Stephen spoke out loud, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (7:59). Stephen went to his knees and asked God to “not hold this sin against them” (7:60). Similar to the sequence of Jesus’ crucifixion, Stephen died—“fell asleep” (7:60)—after he spoke these words.

Biblical Principles

Violent Attack. For his bold witness of Christ, Stephen was publicly and violently assaulted. The people were furious at Stephen, harboring malicious intent to do him harm (7:54). After Stephen spoke about his vision of the Son of Man, the people expressed their disapproval toward Stephen when they “cried out in a loud voice” (7:57). This crowd writhed in its opposition by physically covering their ears so they could no longer hear what Stephen had to say (7:57). Stephen’s criticism of the people—a “stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears” (7:51)—was enacted by the crowd when they “covered their ears” (7:57). Further, the people expressed their anger, malice, and defiance with a collective act of violence toward Stephen: they “rushed together at him” (7:57), “dragged him out of the city” (7:58), and “began to stone him” (7:58). Stephen’s example alerts believers to the reality that people will harshly and brutally mistreat those who bear witness to Christ.

Despite the threat to his life, Stephen did not recant his testimony. He persevered in his witness with courage and sacrifice. Stephen gained such courage by the power of the Holy Spirit (7:55), a vision of the glory of God (7:55), and a clear revelation of Jesus (7:55–56). Although Christians may not be given an exact visionary experience like that of Stephen’s, believers can rely upon the same spiritual realities to maintain a courageous and sacrificial witness: the presence and power of the Spirit, a clear understanding of God’s majesty, and a deep conviction in Jesus’ identity and authority. When believers are armed with these truths, they can march (or be marched!) into inhospitable and life-threatening situations without abandoning the faith. Further, when believers are outfitted with godly courage, they can respond like Stephen in the harshest conditions: entrusting their well-being to Jesus’ safekeeping (7:59) and responding to their enemies (and executors) with loving forgiveness (7:60).

Trial, Death, and Martyrdom Like Christ. Much of Stephen’s martyrdom mirrors the suffering, mistreatment, and crucifixion of Jesus. Some of these parallels are as follows: the trial before a Jewish council (6:12; 7:1; cf. Luke 22:66–71), the defense before the high priest (7:1; cf. Mark 14:60–62), the incitement of a crowd (6:9, 11; cf. Mark 15:6–15), allegations of blasphemy against God, the law, and the temple (6:11–13; cf. Matthew 26:61; Mark 14:55–58, 63–65; Luke 23:1–5), death outside the city (7:58; cf. Hebrews 13:12; Matthew 27:32; John 19:17, 20), entrusting his spirit at the time of his death (7:59; cf. Luke 23:46), and petition for the forgiveness of his executors (7:60; cf. Luke 23:34). These parallels are more than mere literary ornament. Stephen’s martyrdom was an act of true discipleship: aligning his life (quite literally) after the example of Jesus. When people die for their witness of Jesus, they are performing an ultimate act of discipleship, enduring suffering, and offering their lives to God’s service. While a martyr’s sacrifice cannot bring salvation to others (only Jesus’ sacrifice can), this act of complete devotion reminds believers that Christian witness is irrevocably wed to the process of discipleship.

And They Were All Scattered: Expecting Persecution to Spread the Message

Biblical Narrative (Acts 8:1–4)

The martyrdom of Stephen greatly impacted the early church. Saul was present at Stephen’s martyrdom (7:58) and gave “approval to Stephen’s death” (8:1). At that time, “a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem” (8:1). As a result of this persecution, Christians “scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” (8:1). However, the apostolic leaders did not scatter (8:1). People grieved the death of Stephen. Some “God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him” (8:3). Participating in the persecution of Christians, Saul “began to destroy the church” (8:3). Saul went to “house after house” to find Christians, and “he dragged off men and women and put them in prison” (8:3). Although the persecution was concerted and intense, it did not deter the spread of the gospel because “those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (8:4).

Biblical Principles

Suffering Spreads Christians and Gospel/Diaspora. During the early days of the church, persecution was sanctioned by authorities (8:1), targeted against Christians (8:3), and harshly focused on injuring (or ravaging) the Christian movement (8:3). Persecution has been a part of the Christian experience from the beginning of the faith. Throughout the history of the Christian church, believers have been targeted and oppressed by surrounding society. Although there have been certain epochs and cultures where Christianity was an accepted and majority faith, Christianity has typically advanced in contexts where the gospel was marginalized. The persecuted experience of the early church should encourage Christians at all times and in all places that suffering and hardship are an expected part of the Christian life and witness.

Moreover, Christians should understand that persecution can actually help advance the spread of the gospel. In the early church, the “great persecution … against the church in Jerusalem” caused Christians to be “scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” (8:1). An attempt to extinguish the faith resulted in its spread to other regions, an effect that helped to accomplish Jesus’ commission for the global proclamation of the gospel (cf. Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:6–8). When persecuted believers share the gospel, this bold act lends credibility to the message. People are compelled to listen to the words of a person who continues to believe a message for which they have been threatened and assaulted. Additionally, the displacement of Christians to other areas is a means of spreading the word of Christ to the lost. Christians who embrace their itinerant, exilic, and diasporic life can become major agents of evangelistic work.

Lay Evangelism. Scattered Christians help to spread the gospel because gospel witness is the responsibility of all believers. The narrative is clear that the “great persecution” resulted in the scattering of Christians, “except the apostles” (8:1). If the main leaders of the church were the only ones responsible for sharing the gospel, the gospel would not advance very far. However, when lay people speak about Jesus in the natural journey of their life (even if that life journey results in exile, displacement, or diaspora), the global progress of the gospel can become a reality. In fact, this is what happened: “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (8:4). Even if some of these scattered believers were leaders in the church (cf. 8:5), the fact that this gospel preaching was not done by the twelve apostles shows a broadening of the responsibility to preach the good news. Bold and sacrificial Christian witness is a calling on the life of all believers to share the good news of Jesus in the natural course of life.

Conclusion

This amazing narrative provides comfort and encouragement for believers in all generations and cultures. The vision of the church caring for its own members should inspire us to view gospel witness as a responsibility of the whole church. Further, it should show the necessary commitment to both the internal work of community care and the outward work of evangelistic work. Stephen’s holistic ministry, bold witness, and sacrificial death help prepare and instruct believers that the call to witness is a call to sacrifice. Last, the great persecution that afflicted the early church served to advance the spread of the gospel, encouraging believers to share the good news of Christ in the natural course of their lives.

God promises that the gospel will spread to all peoples. Christians should bask in the comfort of this promise. However great is God’s promise, it does not mean its fulfillment will happen without pain and suffering. Even Jesus endured suffering and death as a means for our salvation. So too should Christians understand their life of discipleship, service, and gospel witness. God calls churches to use their resources generously to care for the needs of the church community. A mature and healthy church is an agent and platform of gospel witness. Also, believers should speak about Christ like Stephen: genuine in spirit, compelling in word, clear in message, bold in witness, and willing to die. Embracing one of the greatest acts of discipleship, God calls believers to give bold testimony to Jesus, laying their lives down for the sake of the gospel’s spread.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 9 SYNOPSIS
Sacrificial Witness	In this passage, we learn about the importance of sacrificial witness. The early Christians were growing in number, which caused some challenges in caring for all community members. Greek-speaking widows were being neglected. Seven godly leaders were chosen to care for these needs so that the apostles could keep their focus on prayer and preaching. Stephen was one of the seven leaders. He not only cared for the widows, but he also had a powerful ministry of miracles and preaching. While he was preaching the gospel, a dispute arose around him. People accused Stephen of wrongdoing, and Stephen responded with a powerful gospel proclamation. After his preaching, he was stoned by the hostile crowd. His death led to a great persecution against Christians, which caused the gospel to spread to other areas. This narrative helps believers recognize the role of sacrificial witness in our mission efforts. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Holistic Ministry	Christian ministry should be holistic: a ministry of word and work, caring for physical and spiritual needs, tending to the church and spread of the gospel (6:1–7). Key to the health of the church and the progress of the mission are godly leaders (6:2–6).
Spirit-Empowered Witness	Christian witness should be Spirit-empowered: filled with grace, power, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit (6:3–5, 8, 10).
Suffering and Persecution	Christians should expect targeted opposition, mistreatment, and persecution (6:9–14; 7:54–60; 8:1–4). Christians will experience opposition in the form of accusation (6:11–14), animosity (7:54), and violent attack (7:58) that comes from ignorance, unbelief, and hard hearts (7:51, 54, 57–58). People will oppose Christians but not be able to refute the faith (6:10).
Sacrificial Witness	Christian witness is a sacrificing and courageous work (7:55–56, 59–60) that imitates the example of Jesus (6:9, 11–13; 7:1, 54–60). Sacrificial witness bears testimony to Jesus (7:1–53) with great cost to our own lives (7:54–60). Those who risk their lives to bear witness to Jesus rely upon God’s presence for their courage and strength (6:8, 10, 15; 7:55–56, 59–60).
Gospel Proclamation and Metanarrative of Redemptive History	Stephen’s speech recounts redemptive history as God’s work in saving his people (7:1–53). Essentially, it is a metanarrative account of God’s salvation work in the history of his people. Specifically, this message tells about the overarching theme of God rescuing (7:7, 9, 35, 45) his people out of a sinful condition (7:9, 25, 39–41, 51–52) and desperate situation (7:6, 9, 11, 19, 24) based on his promises (7:5, 8, 17). All salvation culminates in the person and work of Jesus Christ (7:52).
Persecution and the Spread of the Gospel	Suffering and persecution help to spread the gospel (8:1–4). As Christians scatter and endure persecution, they share the gospel with others.

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Building Courageous Witness

Think about what caused Stephen to be bold in his gospel witness (i.e., power of the Spirit, vision of God’s glory, clear understanding of Jesus, etc.). Consider truths and experiences you have had that can encourage you to share the gospel in the face of life-threatening danger.

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.