Explore the Bible Series
June 15, 2008
Background Passage: Acts 6:1-8:3
Lesson Passage: Acts 6:8-15; 7;51-60
In 1993, John Piper published Let the Nations Be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions. In my judgment, this is Piper’s finest work. A few years ago I read this book with great interest, in part, because of a chapter entitled “The Supremacy of God in Missions Through Suffering”. The book recounts several stories of incredible suffering for the sake of the gospel, and, interspersed throughout the chapter, Piper lists six reasons God appoints suffering for his servants. I recount this list for your prayerful consideration and encourage you to read this helpful, thought-provoking work.
I. Resolution of a Church Conflict (6:1-7)
A. A dispute about relief of the poor (v. 1): As we have observed, the early church took great care to meet he needs of the poor in their number, and they did so a significant personal cost. However, the increasing number of converts made difficult the distribution of the resources. The Hellenistic Christians (probably a reference to Greek-speaking Christians) complained that their widows were overlooked. The text gives no indication of deliberate neglect; nevertheless, the church needed to address the needs of these women.
II. The Witness of Stephen (6:6-8:3)
falsely accused (6:6-15): Several years had passed since Pentecost, and the
church’s witness apparently remained confined to
B. Stephen’s defense (7:1-53): This is, by far, the longest address in the Book of Acts. Stephen summarized the history of the Jewish people, in part, to demonstrate that he had not repudiated his Jewish background.
covenant with Abraham (vv. 1-8): Stephen recounted God’s gracious dealings with
Abraham: the call to Canaan, the promise of a son, the judgment of
dealings with Joseph (vv. 9-16): The Lord used Joseph to relocate
3. God’s covenant with Moses (vv. 17-43): Stephen briefly summarized God’s miraculous deliverance of Moses and the Lord’s remarkable plan for emancipation of the Jews from Egyptian bondage.
erection of Solomon’s
5. The application of Stephen’s sermon (vv. 51-53): As Stephen concluded his address, he turned his attention to the religious leaders. He sharply accused the Jews of killing the prophets and crucifying the Just One of God. They had, according to Stephen, received the law of God, but they had not kept the Lord’s precepts.
III. The Martyrdom of Stephen (7:54-8:3)
A. The angry response of the crowd (v. 54): The crowd was “cut to the heart”, a term that, according to Curtis Vaughan, denotes fury (Same term used in 5:33). Also, Luke said the crowd “gnashed at him with their teeth”. Again, this phrase expresses deep, angry emotional response to Stephen’s sermon.
B. Stephen’s vision (vv. 55-56): Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, saw a vision of the glory of heaven and Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father.
death (vv. 57-60): The enraged crowd surged forward and seized Stephen. They took him outside the city to stone
persecution of the church (8:1-3): Stephen’s execution scattered the early
church. Many fled from