Understanding the Stoning of Stephen According to Acts 7:51-60
Explore the reasons behind the stoning of Stephen as depicted in Acts 7:51-60. Discover how his preaching, faith, and unwavering commitment to the truth led to this tragic event. Delve into the biblical narrative and gain insights into Stephen's courageous stand for his beliefs.
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Presentation Transcript
Why Was Stephen Stoned? Acts 7:51-60
Acts 7:51-55 51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God
Acts 7:56-60 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep?
Why Was Stephen Stoned? He went among the people -Acts 6:8 Go preach -Mark 16:15; Acts 8:4 Paul & Barnabas Preached - Acts 11-15 Paul & Silas Preached - Acts 15-18 Paul s manner was to go to Synagogues to Reason from the Scriptures Acts 17:2, 16; 1 Peter 3:15
Why Was Stephen Stoned? He was full of faith & power - Acts 6:9-10 Disputing with Stephen Disputing -suzeteo a. To seek or examine together b. In the NT to discuss, dispute (question) Thayer Probably the discussion began in this way, and when they could not tolerate his arguments they resorted to angry accusations and violence
Why Was Stephen Stoned? He could not be resisted - Acts 6:10 The wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake He, a inspired preacher, spoke the truth Acts 2-7 Truth cannot be hidden - Matthew 10:26-33 He spoke boldly - 7:51-60; cf. Acts 4:13 Ephesians 6:19-20; Romans 1:16 Philippians 1:13-14, 20; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6
Why Was Stephen Stoned? They suborned false witnesses and false accusations - Acts 6:11-14 Suborned -hupobaloe 1. To hire a person to act in a particular way, often involving dishonest activities - to hire, to bribe, to induce. - Greek- English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain 2. To introduce underhandedly, to make a secret agreement, to suborn, put forward by collusion, trans. (Acts 6:11). To suborn in the legal sense is to induce a person to make a false oath, i.e., to commit perjury. - The Complete Word Study Dictionary
Why Was Stephen Stoned? They suborned false witnesses and false accusations - Acts 6:11-14 Accusations of blasphemy against Moses, God, the temple, and the Law Don t misrepresent your opponent 1 Peter 3:9, 16 Use Spiritual Weapons Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:5
Why Was Stephen Stoned? They stirred up the people - Acts 6:12 Jesus - Mark 15:11 Paul - Acts 13:44-52; 14:1-2; 19:32; 21:27 Branded Stephen a blasphemer Can t tolerate the message then attack the messenger - Titus 3:2 ad hominem - 1. appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect; 2.marked by or being an attack on an opponent s character rather than by an answer to the contentions made Webster s online dictionary
Why Was Stephen Stoned? They were cut to the heart - Acts 7:54 Are these things so - Acts 7:1 Stephen s defense Conclusion - Acts 7:51-53 Are we reaching the audience? - cf. Acts 20:27 God s word cuts to the heart Hebrews 4:12; Acts 7:54; 2:37 Are we preaching the word? - 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Or, are we men pleasers? - Galatians 1:10
Why Was Stephen Stoned? They stopped their ears - Acts 7:57 Already heard! - Vs. 54 Determined to stop Stephen s mouth - Vs. 58 These were Stephen s own Jewish brethren Jews slew the prophets - Acts 7:52 Christ, the Just One - Acts 7:52 Trouble usually arises from within Acts 20:28-30; cf. Galatians 5:15; James 1:19 Must avoid error, not trouble - Ephesians 4:1-3
Why Was Stephen Stoned? Some stood by and watched - Acts 7:58 cf. Acts 22:20 Some watched Jesus be crucified Matthew 27:35-36 Edomites condemned for being idle In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them Obadiah 11; 2 John 9-11
Why Was Stephen Stoned? He went among the people - Acts 6:8 They could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake - Acts 6:10 They suborned false witness & made false accusations against him - Acts 6:11-14 They stirred up the people - Acts 6:12 They were cut to the heart - Acts 7:54 They stopped their ears - Acts 7:57 Some stood by & watched - Acts 7:58
What Shall We Do? Alien sinners must Hear the Gospel Romans 10:17 Believe John 8:34 Repent Acts 17:30 Confess Christ Matthew 10:34 Be baptized for the remission of sins Acts 2:38 Erring children of God must Repent & Pray for Forgiveness 1 John 1:7-9 Acts 2:37 Christians must live faithful unto death Revelation 2:10
