What about him? Peter once asked Jesus about what would happen to John. That wasn’t for Peter to worry about. In this chapter, Peter gets rescued from prison, again. That is not Jame’s story, though. He is martyred by Herod Agrippa 1. Of course, Jesus told his disciples it would be this way.
How shall we respond? Stephen’s execution by stoning led to a sharp increase in persecution against the church in Jerusalem. How will the church respond and what will they do in light of the persecution against them? Acts 8 begins to answer that question as it recounts events in the aftermath of Stephen’s death.
Did Stephen blaspheme the temple? God had tabernacled among men in the person of Jesus Christ and they rejected the true temple for a great building of stones in Jerusalem. Stephen comes to the climax of his response and speaks directly to the council that put Jesus to death.
What about Moses and the temple? Stephen had been accused of blaspheming Moses, the temple, and the law. In his defense, he spoke of Abraham and Joseph and now turns to Moses.
What do you have to say for yourself? Stephen was arrested and charged with blasphemy. His experience was paralleling Jesus’ experience before this same council. As Stephen begins to answer the charges, it becomes clear he is not interested in pleading his own defense. He has a message to deliver to the council.
Faithful in Little and Faithful in Much Stephen was one of the seven chosen to serve tables. Soon after, wider ministry opportunities opened up for Stephen. He preached Jesus in Jerusalem and Jews disputed with him about Jesus. He spoke in the synagogues and they couldn’t answer the wisdom of Stephen in showing that Jesus…
Destined to fail? The first church in Jerusalem experienced similarity with the ministry of Jesus. At first, their message seemed well received and they had favor with the people. It didn’t take long before that changed as they continued to preach openly and rebuke that generation of Jews for killing the Messiah. It might seem…
How did the church respond to persecution? From the early chapters of Acts, we would have to include prayer as one of the characteristic marks of a true church. The fact that they prayed in response to persecution tells us something. What they prayed for also tells us something.
Arrested for Preaching Christ Acts 4 opens with Peter and John still speaking to the crowd at the temple about how the lame man was healed. Here the church begins to encounter opposition as Peter and John are arrested and questioned by the council.