LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PART 2 (9 OF 18)
by Tim Badal
Scripture: Acts 7:1-60, Acts 8:1-3
This content is part of a series.
Lifetime Achievement Award Part 2 (9 of 18)
Series: Unfinished - Acts
Tim Badal
Acts 7:1-8:3
In our series we call ''Unfinished,'' we've been looking at the ups and downs of the early church. Last week we began our study of a man named Stephen, a Hellenistic Jew who, along with six other men, was one of the first deacons selected by the church to oversee the distribution of food to the church's widows. Stephen was filled with the Spirit, a man of strong faith, of whom the Scriptures have nothing bad to say.
At the end of Acts 6, we learned that Stephen returned to his old synagogue. He had been a Christ follower for about a year, and has gone back to his home town to tell them that Jesus Christ-the very Man the synagogue hated-was now his Lord and Savior. This resulted in an uproar. We're told that his countenance was like that of an angel, but apparently the people were not drawn to him.
In fact, the people hated him so much that they brought in dishonest witnesses to accuse him with false stories, insinuating he was worthy of punishment by the Sanhedrin, the religious leaders of the day. As they questioned him about his beliefs and teachings, we see again the pattern we've seen throughout Acts. First the people of God were threatened, but they responded by continuing to proclaim Christ. Sometimes they were beaten or imprisoned, but they would also return to preaching the gospel.
But this time, the unbelieving world became so angry at the message of the cross that they not only threatened, mocked and beat Stephen, but this is the first time in the New Testament record that a disciple of Jesus who is boldly proclaiming His name will be cut down. Stephen was taken outside the city and stoned to death because of his faith in Christ. Sadly, he has been joined by many others over the years and in our world today. Thousands, maybe even millions of believers have spoken the good news of Jesus Christ, only to be put to death. We may think our culture i ...
Series: Unfinished - Acts
Tim Badal
Acts 7:1-8:3
In our series we call ''Unfinished,'' we've been looking at the ups and downs of the early church. Last week we began our study of a man named Stephen, a Hellenistic Jew who, along with six other men, was one of the first deacons selected by the church to oversee the distribution of food to the church's widows. Stephen was filled with the Spirit, a man of strong faith, of whom the Scriptures have nothing bad to say.
At the end of Acts 6, we learned that Stephen returned to his old synagogue. He had been a Christ follower for about a year, and has gone back to his home town to tell them that Jesus Christ-the very Man the synagogue hated-was now his Lord and Savior. This resulted in an uproar. We're told that his countenance was like that of an angel, but apparently the people were not drawn to him.
In fact, the people hated him so much that they brought in dishonest witnesses to accuse him with false stories, insinuating he was worthy of punishment by the Sanhedrin, the religious leaders of the day. As they questioned him about his beliefs and teachings, we see again the pattern we've seen throughout Acts. First the people of God were threatened, but they responded by continuing to proclaim Christ. Sometimes they were beaten or imprisoned, but they would also return to preaching the gospel.
But this time, the unbelieving world became so angry at the message of the cross that they not only threatened, mocked and beat Stephen, but this is the first time in the New Testament record that a disciple of Jesus who is boldly proclaiming His name will be cut down. Stephen was taken outside the city and stoned to death because of his faith in Christ. Sadly, he has been joined by many others over the years and in our world today. Thousands, maybe even millions of believers have spoken the good news of Jesus Christ, only to be put to death. We may think our culture i ...
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