Acts 7
Bible Passage: Â Acts 7
Stephen carried out his duties and did it to the fullest 🙂 As our brethren have shared in the previous posting, he was one of the seven appointed to serve the tables. But sharing the word of God and being a living and walking testimony of His graces and power in our lives is not our tool for bragging but our daily duty to our Creator. And Stephen set us a wonderful example.
And so began his address to the council of Jews. It seemed that he poured out the entire history of the Israelites to his present audience, who were also Israelites most likely descendants of these forefathers. Stephen’s address was critical and despite its length, completely relevant. It served a number of functions – striking a chord with his people, his own defence and a timely reminder to the Jews of their God and to examine the genuineness of their faith.
Those of us who get tongue-tied when faced with truth-seekers, or those who want to share God’s words more effectively, there is a lot to learn from Stephen’s address – word usage, clarity of presentation of the order of events, relevance of information to his audience and how they can apply it in their lives.
Word Usage
Did you notice how Stephen started his address by acknowledging his audience as his ‘brethren’ and respectfully, ‘fathers’. Throughout his address, he also used the word ‘our’ instead of ‘yours’ or ‘mine’. Refer to verses 2, 12, 13, 38, 39, 44 and 45. His use of ‘our fathers’ showed his listeners that he valued his identity and it also enabled him to strike a chord with his listeners that he too shared a same heritage as them.
Order in Presentation, Relevance of Content
He went on to chronologically list the important events which happened in the lives of his audiences’ forefathers and the manner in which they handled these happenings:
- Abraham’s calling
- Joseph being sold to Egypt
- Jacob’s death
- God delivering Israel by Moses
- The Israelites’ rebellion against God
The Jews are a group of people very strong on traditions – they hold in high regard home and societal traditions, most of which have basis in their religion. They preserve their laws and traditions by faithfully passing these on from generation to generation. Hence Stephen’s audience at that time were familiar with the contents of his address. It therefore enabled him to further strike a rapport with them, gaining their attention.
Application of a Familiar Concept – What’s In It For Me?
Stephen had several points to convey to his audience. The familiarity of the message, coupled with Stephen’s focus in his address, was all directed at his audience to cause them to rethink their behaviour in their faith. When Stephen talked about God appearing to Abraham in Mesopotamia (v2), he may have been trying to tell his audience that when God first spoke to Abraham, it was not in the temple of Jerusalem. God speaks to whoever He has chosen, and this is not confined to any place. Mesopotamia was not even in Palestine.
Stephen mentioned the covenant of circumcision given to Abraham (v8) to remind his listeners that it was only an outward sign showing the genuineness of his faith. At the end of it all, Abraham was saved by faith (Gen 15:6). Similarly, God would bless Stephen’s audience not because they are circumcised but because they have faith.
When Stephen touched on Joseph’s brothers’ jealousy and ill-treatment of Joseph and God’s abidance with Joseph notwithstanding (v9), it could have served as a check for the Jews who pride themselves in the glories they have achieved, and their opposition towards Christ and His ministers.
Also, Stephen’s mention of the burial spot in a place which was the then center of Samaritan life – Shechem (v16) and God appearing in the wilderness of Mount Sinai (v30) served to remind his listeners that God speaks and moves his people in or outside of Jerusalem, His glory is not confined within the temple walls.
There are many other teachings from Stephen’s full address in today’s chapter. Can you name the others? What do you think he was trying to hint to the people? Note that every word he spoke rang true. It caused the people to be cut to the heart (v54)
Preparation, Prayer, Knowledge and Application of His Word
These are techniques used when we wish to communicate with others more effectively. We can strive to put a little bit more effort in this. If we have to, jot down our thoughts on a piece of paper and plan what we want to say (the salads and appetizers, the main course and the dessert) the next time we meet our friends. I am quite sure when we have something important to say to someone, we don’t just wait for the next opportunity to start blurting everything out without first thinking it through.
If we can do this little bit of preparation for God, why not? Good results come at a price – hard work, and this applies to the work of preaching. With sufficient preparation, prayers (v55), knowledge and application of His word, we will be able to capture our listeners to hear the truth in God’s words.
4 Comments
biblereadingcompanion
Thanks JoyousConcerto for this most excellent pointers today. Indeed, there is a difference between wanting to do the work and actually doing it. And sometimes we forget that and do not put in the necessary efforts, preparation and prayers into it and then wonder why is it that we did not do the work well.
As I read today’s passage, I kept on comparing it to Acts Chapter 2 where Peter was also preaching a sermon before the Jews.
And in both instances… after the sermon was delivered, the people were “cut to the heart” (cf Acts 2:37; Acts 7:54).
But the response of the people in the two instances were totally different.
In Peter’s case in Acts 2, they responded by asking what must they do to be saved and obeying the instructions of Peter, they were baptised in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin!
But in Stephen’s case here, the people were furious! They gnashed their teeth, stopped their ears and stoned Stephen!
What a contrast!
What about us today? How do we respond to the Word of God… especially for the times when the Word does not ‘agree’ with us?
Do we allow our prejudices, our set opinions and hard heartedness from seeing Jesus and His will?
And instead of focusing on the message that was preached, do we focus on the deliverer of the message and ‘persecute’ him or her?
Many of the teachings of Jesus makes us feel nice and fuzzy. But there are also many teachings that are hard teachings that we may find it hard to accept – just like a number of disciples who stopped following Jesus because they could not accept his hard teachings (John 6:60-66).
Something to think about today on the eve of the Lunar New Year… which group do I belong to?
appleofHiseye
I agree with you biblereadingcompanion…when it came to verse 54, it mentioned how the people were “cut to the heart”, and I took note of these words because it’s the second time we have come across it. In each of the two circumstances, the people reacted very differently.
Joyous Concerto’s sharing gave such detailed and specific pointers on how to preach, which I find very practical for my own use. Often I rush into wanting to do something or help someone, that I fail to make preparations or think before I do, and I end up stumbling or mumbling my words without confidence or coherence. My actions may not be helplful or even inappropriate. I like the idea of jotting down our thoughts on a piece of paper and planning what we want to say the next time we meet our friends. It’s true…we have to start somewhere.
I decided to reflect on one question from this sharing: “what do you think he [Stephen] was trying to hint to the people”? He was asking the people to repent, to change, but he told them so in a loving way as a well reasoned reminder, trying to persuade them. He could have just told them what they did wrong, rebuke them, and ask them to repent, but he spoke a whole chapter like a sermon to exhort them. Yet, the people remained stubborn and rash.
So it lead me to think about how we react to sermon speakers and preachers-do we judge their words or do we consider the words of God? Let’s try to listen and consider His words carefully.
PS
Why did Stephen stop his recollection of history at the temple built by King Solomon? (Acts 7:47)
Then he continued abruptly (seemed so?) with the rebuke for “their uncircumcised heart and ear and their resistance against the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 7:51)
May be bec the Israelites continue to worship God with their burnt offerings and sacrifices.
“Heaven is My throne, And the earth is My footstool,
What house will you build for Me?” says the LORD.
Indeed we cannot build a place for God.
But can we offer God a dwelling place? Yes, we can (1 Cor 3:16)
“Or what is the place of My rest?” A place for God’s rest? This is honour and glory beyond description of words! Our body as a place of rest for God!
The Holy Spirit dwells in the heart, so it is ultimately important to keep the heart clean. Sure only the heart? 1 Cor 6:16 says that the other members of the body must be kept clean too,
Yes, the whole body, not only the heart, is a place for His rest. A new creation for His rest. A clean creation for His dwelling. When the Holy Spirit comes in, He fills all in all, not only the heart. (1 Cor 3:16-17)
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?”
Is our body a place for God’s rest?
Ear, have you heard?
Body, are you obeying?
Holy Spirit, have You found rest? Or chaos?
thechosen
Thanks for sharing the points that are covered by Stephen. I also tried to analyze why he said what he said, but i didn’t manage to grasp all the points you mentioned. Thank God for your sharing. Indeed, preparation work in preaching is necessary. As much as we wish that God will give us the words whenever and wherever we need them, i realized since in the past it is not possible if we did not constantly put the matter of sharing His gospel in our hearts and prayers. If we have the heart, God will help us. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves what it means to “have the heart to preach”. Is it just a moving of the heart from time to time? Or is it really shown in our lives studying His words, reflecting on them and learning how to share them? I find it very useful to reflect upon the questions that I came across while talking to others about faith, which i might not have been able to provide to the best of what the Scriptures have contained already. When i reflect, it will help to make the next sharing better. Therefore do not feel discouraged when we feel we have failed in talking about God once in a while. Put this matter into your heart and prayers and there will be another chance. You never know when God lets you speak to a person who truly needs the answer.