Explore the Bible Lesson Preview June 15, 2008 "Stephen: Boldness" Background: Acts 6:1-8:3 Lesson: Acts 6:8-15; 7:51-60

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview June 15, 2008 "Stephen: Boldness" Background: Acts 6:1-8:3 Lesson: Acts 6:8-15; 7:51-60 Motivation: Sharing Jesus was the priority of the early church. It took precedence over every other demand. In this study we'll see not only the priority of evangelism but its price and the change it makes in people. Examination: I. Boldness in Serving (6:1-7) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1550: "6:1 The little crisis over the neglect of the Hellenist widows was the first evidence of controversy in the early church. This incident was not primarily a case of the early church solving its social problems, for it solved the problem with dispatch. The episode points to the primacy of the ministry of the word of God' (v. 2), which always kept the death and resurrection of Christ in the foreground: the scarlet thread through Scripture, or the suffering of Christ for sins and victory over death, which came immediately in its wake. On being confronted with the fact of the neglect of the widows, at once the apostles requested the believers to select seven men' to be responsible for this business' (v. 3). Of the seven selected, every one was a Hellenized Jew, judging by their names (v. 5). The apostles approved their selection (v. 6) and immediately returned with more time and energy for the ministry of the word and prayer. The fact that the apostles approved Hellenized Jews to take care of the feeding of the Hellenized widows reveals the unity of the church. After this event the church experienced its greatest revival since Pentecost (v. 7): (1) the word of God spread'; (2) 1 / 6

2 though previously the number of disciples had only been added' for the most part, the group now multiplied'(gen. 1:28, Gen. 9:7); (3) for the first time many priests were obedient to the faith. The seven' are not called deacons in the Bible. It is assumed that they were deacons because they had the same qualifications which Paul stipulated in 1 Tim. 3:8-13. They are called deacons first by a church father in c. A.D 195." A. Deacon is a description rather than a title "serve tables" (2) The word deacon is a transliteration of diakonos' which means slave or servant. B. Deacon is a beginning rather than and ending. "seek out from among you" (3) Deacons are to be reputable, spirit-filled, full of wisdom, and servant hearted. C. Deacon is a responsibility rather than a privilege. 1. A responsibility to be a role model "of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (3) 2. A responsibility to be a bridge-builder "and the saying pleased the whole multitude" (5) They represent people to pastor and pastor to people. 3. A responsibility to be a spiritual leader "they laid hands on them" (6). II. Boldness in Declaring (6:8-7:53) A. Ministry of Stephen "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people." (6:8) We now have a detailed account of the first martyr from the church. The apostles had been arrested, threatened and beaten; but the honor of joining his Savior in to giving his life first belonged to a deacon. (cf. Trail of Blood or Fox's Book of Martyrs ) 2 / 6

3 B. Motive Against Stephen "disputed with Stephen" (6:9) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1550: " 6:9 Freedmen' were freed slaves or their descendants. Apparently there were divisions in the Jewish community resulting in at least three synagogues; one for the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, one for those who had come from Cilicia and Asia, and one simply for the freedmen from any region. Some may have endured slavery in Italy, in Sardinia, or elsewhere. Once freed, they sought refuge in Jerusalem and had at least one synagogue there. A Rabbinic tradition stated that there were at least 480 synagogues in Jerusalem." C. Movement to Silence Stephen (6:11-15) Since "they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke " (10),(I Cor. 1:18-25,30; Col. 2:2-3), they moved to arrest him. Just as in the trial of Jesus " false witnesses " were " induced " to bring spurious changes. The primary charge is that Stephen's preaching would "change the way we've done things" (14). D. Message of Stephen (7:1-53) 1. Our Roots "The God of glory appeared to our Father Abraham..." (7:1-8) Notice that Stephen begins by establishing common ground. 2. Our Relatives "Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people." Genesis 46:26, 27, Exodus 1:5, and Deuteronomy 10:22 all record the number as seventy. Genesis 46:20 list the extra five: two sons of Manasseh, two sons and one grandson of Ephraim. Believer's Study Bible, p : 7:2-53 "This lengthy section comprises Stephen's speech. Though some have accused Stephen of numerous historical inaccuracies, a careful study of the speech in light of the background of the first century will reveal Stephen to be a marvelous student of Hebrew history and a gifted theologian. (Josh ; Deut. 31:34-36) 3. Our Redeemer "Thus Moses when they rejected, saying Who made you a ruler and a judge?' is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer. 3 / 6

4 .." (35) Stephen was charged with speaking blasphemous words against Moses (6:11). In verses 17-45, Stephen tells the story of Moses reminding the Sanhedrin that Moses was chosen by God (20), chastised by the people (27), commissioned to service (32-34), called a deliverer (35), and conveyed the power of God through signs and wonders (36). The many parallels to Jesus are obvious. 4. Our Refuge "However the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands..." (48) (I Cor. 6:19-20) The other charge against Stephen was that he spoke " blasphemous words against this holy place and the law " (6:13). Stephen reminds the Sanhedrin that there have been several "holy places" and that the Jews don't have an exclusive patent on God (Isa. 66:1-2). This rejection of Jewish exclusiveness was to have a profound affect on Saul of Tarsus and his ministry to the Gentile world. (Acts 9:15-16; 26:17-18; 28:26-28) 5. Our Requirement "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers " (52) Having answered their charges, Stephen levels some charges of his own! His people have once rejected their deliverer (Moses) and now are on the verge of doing it again. They've blown the Old Covenant (7:53) and now want to reject the New Covenant as well (52). (Matt. 23:35) III. Boldness in Dying (7:54-8:3) A. Martyrdom of Stephen (7:54-60) "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 " (58) This verse provides a transition on two fronts. The stoning of Stephen sparks overt persecution of the church. And the young Saul who will become the focal spokesman for Christianity is introduced. Stephen alludes to " Jesus Standing " twice. Believer's Study Bible, p. 1555: 7:55, 56 "Jesus appeared to Stephen as standing'; Paul wrote,...seeking those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God' (Col. 3:1). This is not a contradiction because of the dual nature of the work of Christ at the right hand of God. First John 2:1 states And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' An advocate is a lawyer. During ordinary court procedures the advocate is seated according to decorum. If his client is attacked unfairly, the defending advocate is immediately on his feet to object. So Christ appeared to be standing' as He came to receive His client' Stephen." (Rom. 8:34; Jude 24-25) 4 / 6

5 B. Persecution by Saul "At that time a great persecution arose against the church " (1) "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison " (3) When Saul became Paul, God gave him the most significant ministry in Christian history. But God's Word is brutally honest about his past. Despite his crimes, Paul could write, " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new " (II Cor. 5:17). It's instructive to compare 8:1 to 8:4: "they were all scattered... except the apostles " (1) "those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word " (4). (I Pet. 1:1) " preaching the word " comes from the Greek word which we transliterate as "evangelizing." Most of the witnessing in the early church was done, not by the "preachers", but by the laity (and they all did it!) Application: 1. Sharing Jesus is the priority, it exacts a price and it changes people. Leader Pack Item 6: Handout: Opportunities for Boldness Illustrator: no article Notes: **You may access David's Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: y.org/ ; 5 / 6

6 Dates: March 24 thru September 6- No events in Worship Center; 6/ VBS; 6/23-27 Middle & High School Camp; 6/ Children's Camp; 7/6 - Independence Day, normal schedule; 7/ Houston Project; 7/11 - METRO live and Houston Project; 7/ First Place Annual Leadership Conf.; 8/1 - METRO live; 8/31 - Labor Day Weekend - normal schedule; 9/7 - Promotion Sunday; 9/19 - All Sunday School leader training - 6:30-12:00 pm; 9/21 - Parent Commitment & Reception; 10/ Women's Omni Westside; 10/18 - Shaping Your Child's Character; 11/2 - Fall Back (time change Sun.); 11/7 - FBA Veteran's Recognition Service; 11/ Southern Baptists of Texas Convention; 11/16 - Parent Commitment & Reception; 11/30 - Thanksgiving - one service (10 am) plus Ascend, no Bible classes; 12/6 - Preschoolers Christmas Party; 12/6 - MTC Christmas Store; 12/28 - Christmas Break - All three worship services, no Bible classes. 6 / 6