Acts 7: The Martyrdom of Stephen

In chapter 6, verse 5, we were introduced to "the seven," and Stephen was listed first. It was common in Biblical times to list leadership first, but it may be that he was listed first because of what was to happen to him. Acts 6:8 tells that he did many "signs and wonders" among the people and that his actions triggered a debate among some synagogue radicals. The description of Stephen was that he was full of the Spirit, persuasive and had a shining face.

In chapter 7, Stephen answers his accusers with a sermon that is extremely confrontational. When someone tells me they have a calling to prophetic ministry (meaning to challenge with boldness the things that are happening that need to be reformed), I remind them of the historic price of the prophet. You get the impression that Stephen knows what is about to happen, so he just let's it rip. Luke records the sermon in great detail. I wonder who heard it that would have passed it on to Luke. The sermon is a historical review of the stubbornness of God's people to respond to God's leading. It begins with a fairly netural stance and then turns stronly at verse 39. He sees the resistance of these leaders as a repeat of the pattern of rebellion that happened with the golden calf (Exodus 32) and the worship of other gods that led to the exile in Babylon of the southern kingdom.

They eventually stone him and we are introduced to a radical Pharisee by the name of Saul. He will be important to the rest of the study of Acts. Two things strike me about this passage. First, because of Stephen's experience of Jesus, he saw the scriptures in an entirely different light. Knowing Christ does change everything. Second, there is a price for sharing the good news of Christ. For in presenting the gospel, we are having what one writer calls "a lovers quarrel with the world" (Stuart Briscoe) and also a lovers quarrel with the religious status quo. Not everyone will find that quarrel appealing, but it is absolutely necessary that we have that quarrel. What's the old adage? "All it takes for evil to prevail is for a few good men to do or say nothing."

One day, my dad was traveling in one of the rougher neighborhoods of Pittsburgh to an industrial account. He saw a house on fire, but no one was trying to put it out. They were playing and conversing in the streets, but no one was paying attention to the fire. It had become normal for them. I wonder if that isn't a metaphor for the church in our day. While the world around is spiritually, morally and socially "on fire", we just go about our business as if that's the way things are supposed to be. The abnormal has become normal. How might God use us to change that?