INTRODUCTION

Originally the word "martyr" meant simply a witness, but so many Christian witnesses have died for their testimony that the word has come to mean a person who sacrifices his life for his faith. Stephen, one of the first seven deacons, was the first follower of Christ in the New Testament record who was killed for his testimony.

Established religion, corrupted by human reasonings, customs, and traditions, is generally a most deadly enemy of divine truth. So Stephen was falsely accused of saying "that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us" [Acts 6: 14].

Many of Satan's lies include some truth. Stephen did not waste time and breath denying the perverse accusations; rather he devoted his last few minutes to declaring the great truth that God has been and can be acceptably worshiped at different times in different places and by different means, subject only to His own instructions and regardless of human preferences.

Lesson outline:

1. Sojourning, Acts 7:2-4. 
a. Appearance to Abraham, 2. 
b. Affection for Abraham, 3. 
c. Adventures of Abraham, 4. 

2. Sanctuaries, Acts 7:44-47. 
a. Traveling tents, 44-46. 
b. Temporary temple, 47. 

3. Spirituality, Acts 7:48-50. 
a. Infinite immanence, 48-49. 
b. Infinite industry, 50. 

4. Scolding, Acts 7:51-53. 
a. Parallel peevishness, 51. 
b. Perennial persecution, 52. 
c. Persistent perversion, 53. 

5. Sacrifice, Acts 7:57-59. 
a. Murderous mob, 57. 
b. Marked mutation, 58. 
c. Magnanimous martyr, 59. 

NOTES ON THE TEXT:

SOJOURNING, Acts 7:2-4.

Beginning with the history of Abraham, Stephen reminded his hostile audience that God's people had not always worshiped t Jerusalem. The implication is that if God had accepted the worship of pilgrims and sojourners in the past, it should be conceivable that He might do so in the future.

Appearance to Abraham, 2.

Ur of the Chaldees, in Mesopotamia, was a city of wicked idolators, but it was there that "the God of glory" appeared to Abram, later named Abraham. Evidently God is able to manifest His presence in the most unlikely circumstances, when it please Him to do so.

Affection for Abraham, 3.

Moreover, God indicated His affection for Abraham and promised him the blessings of divine favor through faith. It was Abraham's faith in the promises of God that moved him to obey God's call to separation [Hebrews 11:8].

Adventures of Abraham, 4.

In a few verses we have Stephen's brief summary of the adventures of Abraham as the father of the faithful. Then comes a review of the high points of the history of the patriarchs and of Israel to the time of Moses.

SANCTUARIES, Acts 7:44-47.

Confined to physical bodies, men find it easy to worship physical or material objects which they can see with their natural eyes. Even when they know that God is spirit, they like to associate His presence with physical objects or with certain physical locations. Such association can easily become idolatry, which is an abomination to God. Nevertheless, God has sometimes allowed and provided for specially furnished shrines, sanctuaries, or holy places where He would meet with His people. Within carefully prescribed limits, such sanctuaries have been useful.

Traveling Tents, 44-46.

From Moses to David a movable tent or tabernacle served as a sanctuary for the worship of God. This arrangement was appropriate while the people also dwelt in tents and kept moving from place to place. But David desired something better for God when he considered his own royal palace.

Temporary Temple, 47.

God's house built by Solomon was more substantial and magnificent than the tabernacle, but even so it was only a temporary temple. The temple for which Stephen's persecutors were so concerned was an entirely different structure.

SPIRITUALITY, Acts 7:48-50.

But God cannot be confined to any tent or temple, as Stephen reminded his hearers. The more spiritually minded among God's people have always understood this. As Solomon expressed it in his dedicatory prayer: "Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built" [II Chronicles 6:18].

Infinite Immanence, 48-49.

Really God is everywhere present or immanent in all His creation; no matter where we may think that He is, He is also and always everywhere else.

Infinite Industry, 50.

Divine creation is not limited to what we may think as holy things. Of all the things in heaven and earth it is written that the hand of God has "made all these things."

SCOLDING, Acts 7:51-53.

At this point it seems that Stephen perceived how hard-hearted and unreceptive his hearers were. He must hasten to tell them the harsh truth about their sinful condition, though it cost him his life.

Parallel Peevishness, 51.

Peevish and rebellious against the Word of God, these people were acting just like their fathers (ancestors). Stephen had no more time for polite hints; he was marked for death, and must say what he could while he could. If his language sounds harsh, it was still necessary to tell the truth.

Perennial Persecution, 52.

Earlier prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah had been persecuted and slain by the ancestors of this crowd, and now these wicked people had betrayed and murdered the Messiah Himself.

Persistent Perversion, 53.

These people prided themselves on keeping the law received from Moses under the ministry of angels, but now Stephen echoed the charge of Jesus that instead of keeping that law they had perverted it and made it void by their traditions [Mark 7:13].

SACRIFICE, Acts 7:57-59.

Knowing what the response would be, Stephen had given his testimony, willing to sacrifice his life rather than be unfaithful to his Lord.

Murderous Mob, 57.

Unwilling to hear another word of truth so distasteful, the madly murderous mob raised a great outcry as with open mouths, stopped ears, frenzied minds, and cruel hearts these religious perverts rushed upon a faithful witness to put him to death.

Marked Mutation, 58.

One young man in the crowd, however, was marked for a future mutation, though only God knew it at the time. No martyr for truth ever dies in vain; death can be a more effective testimony than life. Stephen would have rejoiced to know, as we may suppose he does know now, that Saul of Tarsus was destined to become the great apostle Paul.

Magnanimous Martyr, 59.

Following the example of his Savior, Stephen showed no resentment toward the men who were killing him, but rather commended his departing spirit to his God. Jesus, in His dying moments, prayed to God His Father [Luke 23:46]; Stephen, knowing Christ to be God, so prayed to Him.

CONCLUSION [Acts 7:60]

We note again the witness following the example of his Lord, praying for his murderers even as he died [Luke 23:34]. With his last duty on earth fulfilled, Stephen died so peacefully that his death is described as a falling asleep. The sleep, of course, refers to the bruised and broken body; the spirit went at once to be with Jesus [verse 59].
==============

[From AAB, April 14, 1978, pp. 2-3. -- jrd]

---

Return to NT Lessons
Return to HOMEPAGE