Acts 7

Acts 7:1-60

21. A SERMON THAT COST A HIS LIFE Acts 7:1-60 Stephen had been accused of speaking blasphemy against the law and the temple because he told the Jews that the Lord Jesus Christ had fulfilled all the types of the law and satisfied all its demands, and that all forms of carnal worship must be obliterated (Acts 6:8-15; John 4:23-24; Colossians 2:8-23). In Acts 7 the Holy Spirit has preserved a transcript of Stephen’s last sermon, a sermon preached to the sanhedrin, a sermon that cost him his life. What did Stephen preach that so greatly enraged these religious leaders? These men were known to be tolerant and compromising with one another. That is how they held their “denomination” together. But when Stephen had finished his sermon they stoned him to death! Why? What did he say to infuriate them so? IMPLIED STEPHEN’S SERMON IS THE OF GOD’S IN . Beginning with the call of Abraham, Stephen showed how that everything in the history of the Old Testament pointed to Christ and was fulfilled by him. He demonstrated how that God gradually unfolds and accomplishes his sovereign purpose of redemption and grace in providence. THE LORD OUR GOD IS A GOD OF PURPOSE (Isaiah 14:26; Romans 8:28; Romans 9:11; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 3:11; 2 Timothy 1:9). His purpose is good, wise, and full of grace. It includes all things. Nothing takes God by surprise. His purpose in all things is the spiritual, eternal good of his elect and the glory of his own great name. His purpose is fixed, unalterable, and immutable (Isaiah 46:9-11).

It cannot be changed, thwarted, or overturned. Therefore “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose!” If God’s eternal purpose could be altered to any degree, then no promises, prophecies, or threats recorded in the Bible could be believed. We can trust God only to the extent that we recognize his immutability. We can believe the Scriptures only to the extent that we recognize the universality and immutability of God’s purpose (Romans 11:33-36). Predestination is the purpose of God. Providence is the unfolding and accomplishment of God’s purpose. Everything that God has done or has allowed to be done, is doing or allows to be done, and shall do or shall allow to be done is for the spiritual, eternal good of his elect, to the praise and glory of his own great name. In the end everyone shall be made to see this (Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:11-14). Beginning with Abraham, Stephen showed the unfolding of God’s eternal purpose until the coming of Christ for the accomplishment of the redemption of his people. Apart from Christ and his great work of redemption the history of the Jews and all that is recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures would be meaningless (Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44-47). ALL THE EVENTS OF OLD HISTORY POINTED TO THE COMING OF CHRIST AND BY HIM (Acts 7:1-47). The whole purpose for which the Bible has been written is to reveal the grace and glory of God in the substitutionary, redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:45). The bulk of Stephen’s sermon is consumed with one theme: He shows that all the events of Old Testament history were arranged by Divine providence to reveal God’s eternal purpose of grace in the redemption of sinners by Christ. God’s covenant with Abraham was a partial revelation of the covenant of grace made with Christ our Surety before the world was made (Acts 7:1-8; Hebrews 7:22; Jeremiah 31:31-34). In that covenant a seed was promised (Acts 7:5; Galatians 3:26). It was purposed that that chosen seed should fall into bondage (Acts 7:6), even as God’s elect fell into the bondage of sin by Adam’s transgression. Deliverance was promised (Acts 7:7) by which the glory of God would be revealed. That deliverance of Israel out of Egypt was a beautiful picture of our redemption by the blood of Christ and the power of his grace. The sign and seal of that covenant was circumcision (Acts 7:8). Circumcision was typical of the regeneration of God’s elect by the Holy Spirit, by which he separates his own elect from the rest of the world and seals to their hearts all the blessings of covenant grace (Colossians 2:11; Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 1:13-14). Joseph was sent of God into Egypt to preserve his people alive (Acts 7:9-17). In all things he was a type of Christ. He was the delight of his father (Matthew 3:17; Proverbs 8:30). He was despised and rejected by his brethren (Isaiah 53:3). He was in the place of God, by God’s appointment and arrangement (Genesis 50:19-20; Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27-28). When his brothers bowed before Joseph they were saved alive and accepted by Pharaoh (Acts 7:13; Romans 10:9-10). Moses was sent to deliver God’s covenant people from the bondage of Egypt (Acts 7:18-37). He too was a type of Christ (Acts 7:22; Acts 7:35-37). He was a man approved of God (Acts 2:22). He was a prophet (John 3:2). He was a deliverer, by blood and by power. From the day that Israel came out of Egypt they wandered from God, rejected his counsel, and despised his prophets. But God’s purpose could not be defeated, not even by the unbelief and idolatry of the chosen nation (Acts 7:38-43; Romans 3:3-4). The Lord established temporary houses of worship which were to prepare the people for the coming of Christ, but they turned the ordinance of God into idolatry (Acts 7:44-47). The tabernacle and its furnishings, first erected in the wilderness (among Gentiles), was a picture of redemption. The temple was a picture of God’s church, of the glory of God dwelling in her, and of her dwelling in the glory of God forever. These blessed objects which should have prepared the hearts of men to receive Christ, the unbelieving Jews turned into idolatrous objects of worship. They became barriers to faith! NOW THAT CHRIST HAS COME AND HAS BEEN BY HIM ALL CARNAL OF OLD WORSHIP ARE FOREVER (Acts 7:48-50). God has forever abolished Jewish, legal worship (Hebrews 10:1-4). Any reliance upon outward, visible symbols (statues, pictures, crosses, temples, altars, etc.) is idolatry. God cannot be worshipped by the employment of carnal rudiments of the world. All true worship is spiritual (John 4:23-24; Philippians 3:3). Stephen then declared that , WILFUL OF DIVINE TRUTH RESULTS IN ETERNAL (Acts 7:51-53). God will not trifle with those who trifle with him (Proverbs 1:23-33; Matthew 23:37-38). Though the Jews, being rejected of God, rejected his Son, God’s purpose was not affected (Romans 3:3-4; Romans 11:11; Romans 11:22-23; Romans 11:26). OUR GREAT GOD EVEN AND USES THE HANDS OF WICKED MEN TO HIS PURPOSE OF GRACE TOWARD HIS ELECT (Acts 7:54-60; Psalms 76:10). The stoning of Stephen was an inexcusable act of wickedness on the part of these men. Yet, it was overruled by God and used by him to accomplish his great purpose of grace. It was best for Stephen. He went to glory! It was best for Saul of Tarsus. It was one of those works of prevenient grace that prepared the way for grace to come to him. It was best for God’s church. Soon she would have another apostle, whose conversion, no doubt, had its roots here. It was best for the glory of God! IN THE LIGHT OF THESE THINGS WE SHOULD LEARN TO TRUST THE WISE AND GOOD OF OUR GOD!

Acts 7:54-60

22. STEPHEN AND SAUL Acts 7:54-60 The first martyr in the history of God’s church was Stephen, a faithful deacon, a preaching deacon, but a deacon. The death of this faithful man is recorded more fully than the death of anyone else in the New Testament except that of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here is a man dying for the testimony of Christ, dying by the hands of wicked men, but dying in grace and dying graciously for the glory of God. The Spirit of God directed Luke to identify just one of Stephen’s murderers. Those who stoned Stephen “laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.” Saul was probably the man who examined Stephen and had been baffled by his speech when he stood before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:8-10). HERE IS A - Stephen and Saul. Both of them are in glory now. One cannot help wondering how Saul felt when Stephen’s smile met him at the throne! What a joyous meeting they must have had - Stephen and Saul embracing one another! But in the text before us the two men are poles apart. They had nothing in common. Stephen was about to die. Saul was holding the clothes of those who stoned him.

Saul was a proud, self-righteous Pharisee. He was proud of his pedigree, his learning, his works, his religious position, and his great reputation. Stephen was a broken, humbled sinner, saved by the grace of God, whose only hope was in Christ. Saul was wrapped up in himself. Stephen was wrapped up in Christ. His heart was elated not by looking into a mirror, but by looking to Christ, his exalted Lord. He drew his comfort not from what he had done, but from what Christ had done for him. Saul was a religious ritualist.

He placed great weight and importance on the externals of religion. To him, the law, the temple, the priesthood, and the ceremonies were everything. Stephen’s religion was a matter of the heart, a living, spiritual union with God in Christ. He put external matters in their proper place (Philippians 3:3; Acts 7:48-50). He did not at all despise those outward forms of religion ordained of God. But he knew that religious ceremony without faith in Christ is useless (Isaiah 1:10-15). Saul thought God was impressed with rituals and ceremonies. Stephen knew what few know - “The Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7; Luke 16:15).

Saul defended his religion. For the defence of his religion he was willingly cunning, cruel, and callous. Stephen defended the cause of Christ, even at the cost of his own life. The cause of Christ, his church, his truth, and his glory were of greater value to Stephen than life itself. Stephen was gracious to the end, ever truthful, gentle, forgiving, and self-sacrificing. Here are five things to be learned from this paragraph of Holy Scripture and the contrast here given of Stephen and Saul.

1. EVERY ‘S LIFE AND IN THIS WORLD IS , , AND USEFUL. It does matter greatly how you live in this world if you profess to be a believer, a follower of Christ. There are some people who have no knowledge of Christ and his gospel except what they hear from you and see in you. To them you represent the Son of God and the gospel of his grace. Be sure you are a good representative (Titus 2:10). Saul’s first introduction to genuine Christianity, his first experience with a true believer was Stephen. Stephen was the first person to tell Saul about Christ and the gospel of his grace. At first he despised both the message and the messenger. But he never forgot it! In God’s time it had a profound efficacy upon his heart. From Stephen’s lips Saul heard a faithful declaration of the gospel of God’s grace and glory in Christ. He saw in Stephen a believer who was thoroughly committed to Christ. He saw a believer die in faith. In God’s time all these things had their impact upon him.
2. GOD WILL ALWAYS A WITNESS FOR HIMSELF. We are always reluctant to lose any from the ranks of God’s church, especially one of great service and usefulness. We appear to be fearful that the church simply cannot continue to function without certain men. But it is not so. God has always preserved sufficient witnesses for himself and always will until Christ comes. God’s cause is safe in God’s hands! The church lost Stephen, a man of great usefulness. But God had his eye on Saul, a man he would make even more useful. The Lord always has a successor for any man he is pleased to use. When Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha was waiting to carry his mantle. God is never in short supply of men to work in his vineyard.
3. IT IS GOOD FOR TO WHERE THEY WERE WHEN GOD SAVED THEM AND WHAT THEY ARE BY NATURE. The Holy Spirit put these words in the Book of Inspiration as a fact to be remembered - “The witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.” They are words which were meant to keep Paul humble; and they always did. He never forgot what happened at Jerusalem that day (Acts 22:19-20; 1 Timothy 1:12-17). We must never forget where we were when grace found us (Isaiah 51:1). We must never forget what we were and are by nature. We must never forget what God has saved us from (Ephesians 2:1-4), and what he has done for us in Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 John 3:1-3). Such a memory will make us grateful. He loves much who is forgiven much (Luke 7:36-50). Such grateful remembrance will make the gospel of God’s distinguishing grace precious.

All who have been saved acknowledge,“By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Thank God for electing love, redeeming blood, regenerating grace, and preserving power! Grace alone makes us to differ from those who are damned (1 Corinthians 4:7; Romans 9:16). This gives us hope for others too. He who saved Saul of Tarsus can save me. He who saved me can save you.

He who saved us can save anyone. His blood is sufficient! His grace is sufficient! His power is sufficient! Jesus Christ is an able Savior (Hebrews 7:25). 4. OUR GREAT GOD ALL THINGS FOR THE GOOD OF HIS ELECT AND THE GLORY OF HIS NAME. As we saw in the previous lesson, the stoning of Stephen, though it was a terrible act of barbaric cruelty and sin, was best, the very best thing that could have happened on that day. God was in total control of the situation. “If Saul had not been there, Stephen would not have prayed for him” (Spurgeon). “If Stephen had not prayed, Saul would have never preached” (Augustine). Even the evil performed by men and devils is good for God’s elect and shall bring praise to his name (Psalms 76:10; Proverbs 12:21; Proverbs 16:7; Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 3:12-13). 5. WHEN THE TIME COMES, GOD GIVES HIS PEOPLE GRACE TO DIE WELL. Those who die in the arms of Christ, who die in faith, die well. What God did for Stephen, he will do essentially for all who trust Christ. Stephen died, being full of the Holy Spirit, with his heart fixed on Christ, looking up steadfastly into heaven. He died without a care in the world, trusting his sovereign Substitute, calling on the name of God. He saw heaven opened! He saw the glory of God! He saw the Lord Jesus standing in the place of power to receive him! He died without any malice in his heart! He did not really die at all (John 11:25-26). He simply dropped the body of death. He fell asleep in the arms of Christ and woke up in glory, in life!