And it does seem strange and to be a downer talking about this during this festive season. And I think there are serious truths in here that we may lose as we seek to have a carefree relaxing holiday before the new year winds back up again.
Today we are going to be looking at Stephen and the Sanhedrin and what this means for us today. We will look a little closer at the story to see what Luke recorded about this guy Stephen and his run in with the Sanhedrin.
First lets pray…
Stephen
A bit earlier in Acts 6, we are told that Stephen was a guy who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. He was one of the guys picked to ensure that the Greek widows were getting their allotment of food. Stephen is a Greek name, and since he was picked to help the Greek widows, he was most likely what some called a "God-fearer". That is a Greek who converted to Judaism. But now Stephen has gone one step further and become a Christian.I find it interesting in how we come to know Stephen. The Apostles were to teach, and they didn’t want to get side-tracked by this new food issue, so they picked seven guys, one of who was Stephen. He wasn’t picked because of his great skill in preaching, or his boldness but as someone who was trusted enough to distribute food, and yet in our passage we see that Stephen is a bit of a preacher.
While Stephen wasn’t the official minister for the local church, but rather a food distributor, he still couldn’t help but speak. He got into some arguments with some Jews, and this eventually escalated to the Sanhedrin.
The Sanhedrin
Since they couldn’t win an argument against Stephen, some of the Jews played dirty and arranged some false charges to be brought against Stephen. So he was hauled in front of the Jewish ruling council – the Sanhedrin. We see in verses 13 and 14 the charges laid against Stephen. They said he was speaking against the temple and the law. He was accused of saying that this Jesus bloke was going to destroy the temple and remove the law of Moses.Stephen is then given a response and here we have the longest speech in Acts and it is essentially a bit of an Old Testament overview. Stephen tells this Jewish council their Jewish history. George Bernard Shaw said that in this speech Stephen comes across as “a tactless and conceited bore”[1], as he tells his audience what they already know.
But if you have ears to hear, it is clear that Stephen is using their Bible to show that God has never been limited to the temple and that Israel has constantly refused to listen to Moses and the Law.
In his speech Stephen says
God appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia,
God was with Joseph in Egypt,
God appeared to Moses in Midian,
that Israel had a moveable temple, the tabernacle, in the wilderness
and even when the temple in Jerusalem was made under Solomon, Isaiah said that the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands.
All of this is in their scriptures and all of this was to point out that God is not limited to the temple. God has appeared outside of the temple, outside of Israel and their overinflated idea of their location has led them to overlook this fact that is plain in their Biblical history.
Stephen also points out that when Moses tried to rescue an Israelite from an Egyptian and then later from a fellow Israelite from an attack the people turned against him. Later still, after Moses received the living words of God, Israel rejected Him and turned their hearts back to Egypt, and they worshipped a golden calf. It is clear again in their text that Israel has a history of rejecting Moses and Gods law.
Now, this did not go down well. Especially the last bit of the speech. After demonstrating that Stephen knew his Biblical history, he then accuses the Sanhedrin of 1) killing Jesus the righteous one who was predicted in their text and 2) for not obeying their own law that was given to them by Moses. The accused became the accuser.
Not much time has passed since Jesus was killed, so when Stephen addresses them and says “you killed Jesus” he isn’t just meaning you the institute of the Sanhedrin killed Jesus, but more you, Caiaphas[2] and the rest of you in particular killed Jesus.
He said this council was just following the long line of traditional Jews who disobeyed God, Moses, the Law and the prophets.
Stephen caused a bit of a stir with his words to say the least. The Sanhedrin were furious. Who was this Greek guy telling these important Jews that they were disobeying the Jewish law? They took Stephen outside the city and killed him.
The churches response to this was to flee. Things were not that comfortable for the Christians from then on. Saul started to tear the church apart. So those who could leave did. Only the Apostles seemed to have stayed in Jerusalem.
Stephen like Jesus
Now I wonder if in the reading you were getting a bit of déjà vu hearing this story as it seems to mimic someone else who appeared in volume one of Luke’s writings.Jesus had false witnesses brought against Him in front of the Sanhedrin.
Jesus was accused of blasphemy and of threatening to destroy the temple.
Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit
Jesus said to the Sanhedrin that they will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Father (Mat 26:64).
And Jesus was killed outside of the city.
When Jesus was dying on the cross, he said both “into your hands I commit my Spirit” (Luke 23:46) and “Father forgive them they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
It seems that in the recount of Stephen, Luke is showing us how similar Stephen was to Jesus.
Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else? I don’t think I have in real life, but I get it all the time in my email… Maltese Oli Company, Victorian construction guy, NY bucks party planning,… But would your lifestyle cause a case of mistaken identity between you and Jesus?
Stephen knew Jesus and Stephen died like Jesus.
When Stephen was brought before the council, he spoke God’s story back to them, boldly without fear, and then when the mob had turned against him, while he was dying, he copied Jesus, asking for them to be forgiven. Stephen’s behaviour copies Jesus.
In the story of Acts, this moment is quite a pivotal or barrier-breaking moment in the story. Acts is framed around how the message of Jesus was to spread from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and then to the ends of the earth. Once Stephen dies, the church scatters and heads out from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria, and those who fled, spread the message of Jesus as they went.
For us
Now for us, what does this story mean for us today? It can be hard in Acts to draw direct lines to us, for in Acts it is describing events and not necessarily prescribing them as the course of action for all believers for all time. Pentecost was a big one-off deal. Paul’s conversion on the Damascus Road is not necessarily your conversion story. Stephen getting killed before the Sanhedrin isn’t the outcome of every believer. These are exciting stories, and in them, we do see how people respond and react.For this story today with Stephen before the Sanhedrin, I think we still can learn something from Stephen and something from the Sanhedrin. Basically, we will see that Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, and the Sanhedrin was full of anger.
Stephen full of the Holy Spirit
Now Stephen didn’t set out to be a missionary or a minister but ended up a martyr. I do wonder if Stephen knew what the outcome of this trial was going to be. Earlier in Acts 4 when Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin, they were threatened by them (Acts 4:21), then in chapter 5 the apostles were put in jail and then received a beating by order of the Sanhedrin and then was let go (Acts 5:41). It seems here in Acts 7 and 8 things have escalated again.Stephen didn’t have the official teaching platform in the church, he didn’t have the theological degree, but He did have the Holy Spirit, which really is the only qualification that really counts.
Luke emphasis the Holy Spirit when Stephen is introduced in Acts 6:5 and then again when Stephen is about to be killed in Acts 7:55. It’s like the Holy Spirit bookended his life. As we saw, Stephen behaved a lot like Jesus because he knew Jesus, and this was because he was full of the Holy Spirit. And when he faced the Sanhedrin, He spoke God’s words back to them. Boldly.
And just to get a bit more meta, God’s words that Stephen spoke back to the council, he pointed out that the Holy Spirit didn’t live in a temple made by human hands. In that council, God was dwelling there because Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. And instead of the council being in awe, they were angry.
Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and spoke God’s words back to the council. Boldly. Being full of the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean you lose some control of your mind or body, but rather, you are controlled or self-controlled in line with what God wants. It is letting His mind, through His word, dominate[3] our speech and behaviour. John Piper says being filled with the Holy Spirit is being caught in to the joy that flows among the Holy Trinity[4]. With the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we are caught up, in that relationship with God the Father and the Son, and between them is joy. And this gives us strength (Neh 8:10), even during an angry meeting.
Now, you may not get hauled into some ecumenical council and be told to speak up for Jesus, but are you trusting in the Spirit and confident enough to speak God’s words to those around you - if they ask you something? Do you feel you know enough of what God has said so that you in turn can say something of His words back? Do you fundamentally follow Jesus’ way that your life mimics His?
Your workmate askes you what you did on the weekend, or what your family tradition is over Christmas or the holidays. Do you mention church? Do you mention Jesus? Do you worry about the repercussions of sticking your head out and letting people know that you think Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life, that no one comes to God, except through Him? Do your workmates know that as a Christian your identity is in Christ and not in your job or family or sexuality? I think we may be hesitant to speak up because we fear there may be trouble if we do say something.
The Sanhedrin full of anger
This takes us to the other thing we can learn from this passage, this time about the Sanhedrin.When the Sanhedrin were told God’s word, they did not immediately convert. Instead, they were hostile. While Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, the Sanhedrin was filled with anger. They were doing what Stephen had accused them of - rejecting God’s word. Here we see the world at its worst and the Christian at its best[5].
The Sanhedrin were gnashing their teeth, something we are told is what happens in Hell. The Sanhedrin were seething at Stephen, and yet he didn’t back down. In the face of this trouble, his face was like an angel. He didn’t water down the message, he spoke God’s words and they didn’t like it and that cost him his life. He was merely following the Son of Man, who is at the right hand of the Father.
Not everyone you meet in Canberra will try and burn you at the stake for being a Christian. Not everyone you meet is some militant atheist who is going to slash your tyres. In fact, statistically, you are more likely to talk to someone who is open to spirituality than not[6]. However, there will be people who will not like what you have to say if you speak God’s words back to them. There are some workplaces that may make it hard for you to take a Biblical stance on everything. That has always been the case. In fact, the last 100-200 years have been an anomaly when it comes to Christian acceptance, I think only now are things rebalancing to how it has been I the past.
As Rory Shiner says[7], Christianity is no longer mainstream, we are an alternative society, we are outside of culture. And this isn’t alarmist talk, this is just where most Christians for all times have lived. I mean Jesus did say: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18) and John again says: “Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters if the world hates you” (1 John 3:13).
It has always been the case that people will not like what the Bible says. I am sure Paul offended people with what he wrote back then because people are still offended by what he wrote today[8].
I do wonder if there were Christians who heard about the news of Stephen and what he said, who were awfully apologetic to their Jewish friends. They may have said things like, Stephen doesn’t speak for all of us, or maybe Stephen could have been a bit more nuanced in his words, or his tone was off for the audience he was addressing. I wonder that, as I have said those words when some contemporary Christian has spoken on an issue in the media.
What do you do when someone tries and ask you one of those gotcha questions about Christianity? Do you try and tone down what the Bible says? Or do you back it - wholeheartedly? Confident that the Bible is true and contains all we need to know for salvation and Christian living. Since we are an alternate culture, let’s not pretend that everyone believes the same things as we do. Embrace it.
Stephen was brought in and asked about his belief, they gave him the platform and he spoke boldly. So I’m not saying to go and be a jerk and look for trouble. Don’t send an all-staff email saying that the Quaran is historically inaccurate when it states that Jesus didn’t die on the cross (Quran 4:157-158). Don’t be that guy. Don’t cry persecution when you are actually experiencing natural consequences for being a jerk.
But when asked about what you believe, speak God’s words back to them. Be confident and bold, but don’t be a jerk about it. Or as Peter says: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
Speak God's words wherever
Now all this talk about Stephen and his death may have you thinking that this call is too high. You don’t know if you would speak up in front of some tribunal that had the power to take your life (and that is probably not going to happen anyway). Maybe you think you would run instead. If you are thinking that I don’t think that is a cope out. That is what the rest of the church did, except for the Apostles. The rest fled the anger of Saul and the council and sought to live elsewhere, as refugees. But we read what these so-called un-heroic, normal nameless Christians did in Acts 8:4:Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went
Those who fled still spoke up and spread the Gospel even further. They were still filled with the Holy Spirit. Whether it was experiencing persecution or running away from persecution the Christians in Acts still spoke God’s words back to people.
“God does not call all of us to be martyrs, but He does call us to be “living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1–2). In some respects, it may be harder to live for Christ than to die for Him”[9]. In the eyes of the world, Stephen lost. He took the L, he stuck his head up too high and lost it. The Sanhedrin kill him and scattered the church, they broke its central headquarters. But history shows that that did not stop the church.
2,000 years later, we are celebrating the birth of our God who came to save everyone. The message was not stopped, because people were full of the Holy Spirit and they spoke God’s words back to those around them, regardless of external pressure.
With the New Year, there may come some reflective time about who you are and who you will be next year. What might you change over these holidays, what might you start doing? How might you speak God’s words boldly to someone? Do you feel like you don’t know enough about what the Bible says on issues like identity; or marriage; or gender roles? What questions are you asking, and what questions are those around you asking? How might you research these topics to find out what the Bible says about them? Who might you ask to help you? When seeking an answer do you hold God word as the highest source of authority, one that you are willing to submit to and pass on to others?[10]
If you are a Christian, God dwells in you. May you be confident that when you walk through the darkest valley, or even just your work corridor, that you would fear no evil for you know that God is with you.
I pray that the God of hope [will] fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)
“God does not call all of us to be martyrs, but He does call us to be “living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1–2). In some respects, it may be harder to live for Christ than to die for Him”[9]. In the eyes of the world, Stephen lost. He took the L, he stuck his head up too high and lost it. The Sanhedrin kill him and scattered the church, they broke its central headquarters. But history shows that that did not stop the church.
2,000 years later, we are celebrating the birth of our God who came to save everyone. The message was not stopped, because people were full of the Holy Spirit and they spoke God’s words back to those around them, regardless of external pressure.
With the New Year, there may come some reflective time about who you are and who you will be next year. What might you change over these holidays, what might you start doing? How might you speak God’s words boldly to someone? Do you feel like you don’t know enough about what the Bible says on issues like identity; or marriage; or gender roles? What questions are you asking, and what questions are those around you asking? How might you research these topics to find out what the Bible says about them? Who might you ask to help you? When seeking an answer do you hold God word as the highest source of authority, one that you are willing to submit to and pass on to others?[10]
If you are a Christian, God dwells in you. May you be confident that when you walk through the darkest valley, or even just your work corridor, that you would fear no evil for you know that God is with you.
I pray that the God of hope [will] fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)
We give you thanks, O Lord of glory,for the example of Stephen, the first martyr,who prayed for his persecutors,and looked to him who was crucified,your Son Jesus Christ,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.[11]
Lord, help us to be filled by your Spirit, and enable us to speak your words boldly to those around us, through your power. Amen.
[1] Cited in John Stott, The Message of Acts (BST)
[2] “The high priest was probably still Caiaphas, as at the trial of Jesus; he remained in office until A.D. 36” F.F. Bruce, The Book of Acts (NICNT)
[3] Kinda from John MacArthur, Ephesians (MacArthur New Testament Commentary)
[4] John Piper, Be Filled with the Spirt
[5] John MacArthur, The Stoning of Stephen
[6] Rory Shiner at The Gospel Coalition Australia Conference 2021 said 72% of those who have no religion believe in some spirituality.
[7] Session 2 at The Gospel Coalition Australia Conference 2021
[8] N. D. Wilson, Trouble Makers. I don't wholly agree with everything in this talk, but I was going to use more of this, but in the end, I didn't think it would be helpful to address specific topics like marriage and gender as people would go away thinking about that and not what this passage is saying.
[9] Warren Wiersbe, Be Dynamic (Acts 1-12)
[10] I couldn’t find it at the time, but when looking up my reference for this blog, this quote may have been more helpful: “we must work both at our message and our lives. We must out think and outlive those who oppose the gospel. I can think of at least five requirements in this regard. (1) We must know the Scriptures. (2) We must know the people to whom we minister and the way they think. (3) We must be able to let the Scriptures speak penetratingly to the issues our audience faces. This comes through careful reflection, as we look for ways to make the connection between the world of the Bible and the world of our audience. (4) We must ensure that there is no hindrance to the infilling of the Spirit in our lives. We must be vessels fit for the Master’s use, purified of ignoble things and prepared to do any good work (2 Tim. 2:20–21). (5) We must, through prayer, make sure that we are in tune with the mind of the Spirit.” - Ajith Fernando, Acts (NIVAC)
[11] A Prayer Book for Australia
[10] I couldn’t find it at the time, but when looking up my reference for this blog, this quote may have been more helpful: “we must work both at our message and our lives. We must out think and outlive those who oppose the gospel. I can think of at least five requirements in this regard. (1) We must know the Scriptures. (2) We must know the people to whom we minister and the way they think. (3) We must be able to let the Scriptures speak penetratingly to the issues our audience faces. This comes through careful reflection, as we look for ways to make the connection between the world of the Bible and the world of our audience. (4) We must ensure that there is no hindrance to the infilling of the Spirit in our lives. We must be vessels fit for the Master’s use, purified of ignoble things and prepared to do any good work (2 Tim. 2:20–21). (5) We must, through prayer, make sure that we are in tune with the mind of the Spirit.” - Ajith Fernando, Acts (NIVAC)
[11] A Prayer Book for Australia
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