Day 38 - Acts 7

I'll go ahead and forewarn you that there are some pretty graphic and gnarly details in today's post.  I pray that it not only grabs your attention but allows you to feel emotionally tied to the persecution that was and still is experienced by Christ-followers to this day.


Let's get to it.

Acts 7 (Read it here)

When we left off yesterday Stephen was being dragged to trial after schooling some men at the synagogue.  These men spread a whole bunch of nasty rumors that got him arrested and brought before the high council.

The high priest gave an opportunity for Stephen to defend himself by asking, "Are these accusations true?" (v. 1)

Stephen replies with, literally, a survey of most of the Old Testament.  He mentions all of the patriarchs of the faith (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, etc) and, basically, summarizes from Genesis 12 (Abraham leaving his native land, current day Iraq, to what is now Syria) to 1 Kings 5 (Solomon building the temple).

So if you ever wanted a condensed version of the Old Testament, reread what Stephen had to say between Acts 7:2-50 again. He even quotes the prophets Amos and Isaiah. (vs. 43, 50)

This was a good indication that Stephen was most likely formally educated by a rabbi (which also hints that Stephen was probably brought up in a wealthy family).  Even children and teenagers who were fortunate enough to be trained in the yeshiva (the main arena for learning the Torah, the first five books of the Bible) didn't get a comprehensive study of the prophetical books, too.

Anyway, back to Acts 7.  It seems that Stephen is primarily telling the whole story before hinting at his point around verse 35, where Moses is rejected by his own people prior to the exodus. Even though Moses did lead the Israelites out of Egypt and the bonds of slavery and predicted that a savior figure/prophet would come (Jesus would easily fit this billing), he and God were constantly rejected (see verses 39-40).

God permitted the Israelites to worship whomever they wanted, but it came with its own consequence.  It was God who had rescued them from Egypt, it was God that had provided water from a rock and manna (like crackers or wafers) from heaven. (See Exodus 17:1-7 and Exodus 16, respectively)

To get the full gravity of what Stephen is talking about, it is worth talking about the two pagan gods of Molech and Rephan. (v. 43) Molech is mentioned 16 times in the Bible and one of the most detestable acts of worship that was required by Molech was the sacrifice of children, primarily the firstborn. (See Leviticus 18:21).

Rephan was another name for Saturn, the god of the stars, and was the Bible's version of worship via astronomy.  Rephan was particularly worshiped for his control over agriculture and the harvest. It was in observance of Rephan (or Saturn) that gave the date of what we know as the Christmas season, which began on December 17 and ended on the 25th.  Christians simply began celebrating Jesus' birth to "overshadow" the worship and celebration of Saturn.

God, himself, ridiculed the Israelites for the creation of idols; idols made from wood and stone—gods that [can't] see nor hear nor eat nor smell. (Deuteronomy 4:28)

If God could describe the Israelite people in one word, He would have been accurate in choosing the word stubborn. They continually complained against, rebelled and rejected God.


In verse 51, Israelites are described by God as stubborn, heathen at heart, deaf to the truth and those who resist the Holy Spirit!

Even though the council may have been rolling their eyes, wondering when Stephen would ever stop giving his lecture, Stephen grabs their attention by implying that the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

Stephen says, "That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered.  You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.” (vs. 52-53)

Do you understand the intensity of the insult that Stephen just laid down? He called the council the equivalent of
baby killers, 
star worshiping-pagans, 
stubborn, 
impure at heart, 
those who ignore God and the truth!!

Take any brutally honest talking-to that Jesus or Peter ever gave and multiply it times a thousand!

Stephen spoke with the full measure of the Holy Spirit and, Luke says in verse 55, sees God and Jesus in heaven at that momen! He pays no attention to the rage of the council and continues to prophecy about how he sees Jesus at the right hand of the Father. (v. 56)

The enraged men rushed at him, dragged him outside the city and began to throw stones at him. (v. 57)

Stoning was a way of performing capital punishment without one person carrying out the deed and being solely responsible. In many cases, the accused would suffer repeated strikes with stones (as big as accusers wanted to throw) until they fell unconscious, died or both.  Again, in many cases, the punishment would end with an exceptionally large stone (big enough for at least 2 men to carry) dropped on the accused, which would be the fatal blow. This place would also turn out to be the accused's grave site, no formal burial was performed. Other than crucifixion, it was one of the slowest and most torturous ways to be killed.

I know that was graphic, but that fairly gives you respect for the fear that one must have had when being faced with such a punishment.

But Stephen is not phased!  During his stoning, he prays two things that are eerily similar as to what Jesus said during his final moments on the cross: receive my spirit and don’t charge them with this sin (similar to 'forgive them, for they don’t know what they do')!

His final act was to ask for the angry mob's forgiveness.  After that, he dies.

By the way, Saul (who would be later known as Paul, the writer of the majority of the New Testament) was there and in support of what he saw happening to Stephen.  This was before he became a Christ-follower.  His time is coming. We'll find out soon enough what happens to him here in the book of Acts.


Questions

1.) God describes idols as things that don't see, hear, eat or smell.  Are there things in your life that interfere with getting to know God that fit this criteria? Name a few (you get bonus points if there made of wood or stone).

2.) Have you noticed the theme that the truth tends to get the truth-teller in trouble?  Does that fear stop you from being completely honest? Why or why not?

3.) Stoning has since been outlawed in every country other than in countries that are majority Muslim.  The most common crime that results in stoning today is adultery. Christ-followers can also be stoned for their faith. Do you see the connection? Both accused parties are punished for being with someone their not supposed to be with (one their not married to and Jesus, for example). Explain how you feel about knowing these facts.