Acts 7-8

I am always impressed with how well Stephen performed in front of the Jewish Leaders, especially the High Priest.

1. He was bold! He already knew that the previous apostles who had spoken in the Temple had been thrown in prison. Even flogged! Regardless, he knew it was a dangerous mission and he performed it perfectly.

2. He knew his history. This was an educated man and he was filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5). He had education but, more importantly, he had Power from the Holy Spirit.

3. He spoke with authority. After a chapter long dissertation on the history of the Jews, he hand over the final verdict to the Jewish Leaders in Acts 7:51-53:

"How stubborn can you be? How can you be so heartless and disobedient? You're just like your ancestors. They always opposed the Holy Spirit, and so do you! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors didn't persecute? They killed those who predicted that a man with God's approval would come. You have now become the people who betrayed and murdered that man. You are the people who received Moses' Teachings, which were put into effect by angels. But you haven't obeyed those teachings."

4. He was still very Christlike at his death. Here he has been thrown out and is being stoned to death. He should be angry that these hard-hearted, unbelieving leaders are not getting it. Instead, he asks God to forgive them.

(Act 7:60) Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!" When he had said this, he died.

What a great lesson for us! We live during troubled times right now. The moral fabric of our nation is falling apart day by day and with increasing rapidity. What is the answer? Follow Stephen's example.

• Be bold.
• Become educated - know what it is you are fighting for. Discover your country's history.
• Speak with authority and under the Power of the Holy Spirit.
• And forgive. Realize you are trying to change authority that does not know God. Pray for them, but do not back down.
• More importantly, discover who you are! Stephen knew Who he belonged to, and that gave him absolute courage to deal with the ruling authorities. You belong to God, you can count on the fact that He will never leave you nor forsake you, and He asks you to join Him in His work.
  

Chapter 8 deals with another powerful disciple - Philip. What similarities do you see between him and Stephen? Differences?

God bless you with boldness for God!