The death by stoning of stephen marked a turning point in christianity. In the book of acts youll see that the men you read about in matthew, mark, luke, and john have been transformed. Therefore, once again i would point out that the subject of the book of acts concerns the propagation of the resurrected christ. In acts, jesus sends the holy spirit to empower his disciples as they carry. His martyrdom was witnessed by saul of tarsus, a pharisee who would later become a follower of jesus and. Its because of common guys like stephenmuch more than through the apostlesthat the early church grew. The blue letter bible ministry and the blb institute hold to the historical, conservative christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of scripture.
Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. The life and teachings of jesus christ are established in the four gospel narratives, and the book of acts provides a coordinated account of the beginning and spread of the church as the result of the work of the risen lord and the holy spirit through the apostles. Aug 31, 2015 the very length of stephens speech in acts 7, the longest in a book full of speeches, probably indicates something of the importance luke assigned to this episode in the history of early. Stoning of stephen bible story study guide learn religions.
The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. Stephen wanted the people to remember their heritage vss. The best way to present a summary, or extract, of acts is to describe its subject. It is the historical link that joins the life of christ with the growth of the christian church.
Stephen is mentioned in acts 6 as one of the greek. An inward experience of grace flows outward into a gracious spirit toward others. This is exactly what we find in the book of acts, in the life of an ordinary man name stephen he realized the value of the gospel and was willing to risk everything to preach it. Look through stephens sermon and you will see clearly what he wanted the people to know. The name stephen is greek, and chapter 6 of the acts of the apostles 6 tells us that he was a hellenist a foreignborn jew who spoke greek. The gospel of luke retells the story of jesus life, death, and resurrection. Just before these arrogant, unredeemed jews followed the prescribed penalty and began stoning stephen, acts 7. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. He recounts the history of israel and names moses as a prototype of christ. Max lucados life lessons from act is a 12session study for groups or individuals. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1.
Peters activities are described at some length, and john and philip are mentioned, but more than half of the book is about paul and his connection with the christian movement. Throughout the history of the early church, various charismatic gifts such as healing. Let me summarize the importance of acts in three simple statements. The book of acts tells the story of both the glorious and tumultuous early years of the church. To the objection that it seems unlikely that such a long speech could be reproduced in the text of acts exactly as it was delivered, some biblical scholars have replied that stephen s speech shows a distinctive personality behind it. Watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. His story is wholly contained in two chapters in the book of acts, but it provides a glimpse into life in the early church and serves as an example of how our faith in christ can lead to great things. Stephen s sermon is twice as long as peters sermon delivered at pentecost acts 2. The only primary source for information about stephen is the new testament book of the acts of the apostles.
There is no mention in acts of anyone being punished for the death of stephen. The greek word for wisdom is used only four times in acts, twice of stephen 6. He testifies of the apostasy in israel and sees jesus on the right hand of god. Both are hellenistic jews and neither is numbered among the 12. Jun 29, 2018 under roman law, stephen s death was illegal. In addition, stephen was also the first martyr of the church. Of the numerous speeches in acts of the apostles, stephen s speech to the sanhedrin is the longest. Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to be responsible over the distribution of food to widows in the early church after a dispute arose and the apostles recognized they needed help.
Philip responded to the worst day of his life with the obedience to faith that had already set him apart from so many other christians. According to the fifth book of the bibles new testament, the acts. In acts there is not a single verse that can be taken as a summary of the entire book. One of the outworkings of the gospel is that it will inevitably reorder your value system. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named saul. Acts 7 stephens speech to the sanhedrin bible gateway.
As per the information available in the new testament book of the acts of the apostles, the apostles had conferred upon stephen the holy orders and made him one of the seven members of the diaconate, more popularly known as the deacon. He was also full of gods grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people acts 6. It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. M any people who are familiar with the bible are not familiar with stephen who was one of the first deacons in the bible. The sanhedrin was not authorized to impose the death penalty, but the stoning appeared to be the result of mob action. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of the document. Of the 27 books that make up what we know as the new testament, the one called the acts of the apostles is unique in the information it contains. If anything, stephen s words are an indictment, not a defense. The god of glory appeared to our father abraham while he was still in mesopotamia, before he lived in harran.
May 12, 2010 let me summarize the importance of acts in three simple statements. It is stephen s answer to the question posed by the chief priest. Stephens final words were similar to jesus last words on the cross. In his new book, second acts, stephen pollan shares with readers the idea that people are unnecessarily fearful of dramatic change. He testifies of the apostasy in israel and sees jesus on. How is understanding the life of stephen valuable to our spiritual growth.
Acts tells us how the christian movement came into beginning. Whether you wish to change careers, move to a more desirable part of the country, start a business, write a novel, or drop everything to pursue a life dream, stephen pollan offers a powerful message ofhope and guidance that has benefited his own clients. Stephens speech to the sanhedrin then the high priest asked stephen, are these charges true. Acts 68 describe the activities of two nonapostles, stephen and philip. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international. We only have a chapter and a half about stephen in the whole bible, yet he emerges as one of the most impressive characters in the entire scripture. It is filled with all the drama, thrills, adventure and suspense. Leave your country and your people, god said, and go to the land i will show you.
Oct 04, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Stephens sermon is twice as long as peters sermon delivered at pentecost acts 2. For my wednesday night bible study class for kindergarteners6th grade, i decided to do an overview of the life of stephen. Trusting god after the worst day of your life acts 8. Complete bible timeline links interlinear bible bible commentaries bible lexicon topical bible bible summary bible outline bible timeline childrens bible bible hub homepage. Creating the life you really want, building the career you truly desire pollan, stephen m, levine, mark on. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church.
Whether you wish to change careers, move to a more desirable part of the country, start a business, write a novel, or drop everything to pursue a life dream, stephen pollan offers a powerful message ofhope and. Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world. While in samaria, philip did the kinds of things stephen had done, things that had marked the ministry of jesus. Acts 6, new international version niv the bible app. But stephen, full of the holy spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of god, and jesus standing at the right. Jan 02, 2020 just before these arrogant, unredeemed jews followed the prescribed penalty and began stoning stephen, acts 7. Stephen, traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first martyr of christianity, was according to the acts of the apostles a deacon in the early church at jerusalem who aroused the enmity of members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy at his trial, he made a speech denouncing the jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him and was then stoned to death. Mar 18, 2020 the book of acts tells the story of both the glorious and tumultuous early years of the church. Stephen as his name and his relations in the church at jerusalem seem to imply acts 6. Dec 23, 2003 second acts is a guide to reinventing your life. His story is wholly contained in two chapters in the book of acts, but it provides a glimpse into life in the early church and serves as an example of how our faith in. This title may be a bit misleading, because 11 apostles are barely mentioned, while the book concentrates almost exclusively on the early work of peter chapters 112 and the short but influential ministry of paul chapters 28.
The existence of the jewish nation was no coincidence or human contrivance. Stephens speech in acts 7, the longest in a book full of speeches, probably indicates something of the importance luke assigned to this episode in the history. Yet stephen is the first martyr and his speech summarizing some important theological points in the transition between peters ministry in jerusalem and pauls mission in acts. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament.
The book has been called the acts of the apostles, really a misnomer because acts has very little to say concerning most of the original twelve apostles. In the new testament, in the book of acts, you will learn how the members of the church in jerusalem gave their money freely to help the poor. Acts has been called a transitional book because it serves as a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. Jul 22, 20 for my wednesday night bible study class for kindergarteners6th grade, i decided to do an overview of the life of stephen. Most of us know that he was the first christian killed for his faith, but do we know what led up to that. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. A person who understands and lives gods grace as seen in the cross also becomes a person who shows grace to others. Timeline of the book of acts from the bible generation word. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of. Saint stephen is a recognized saint in many christian theologies, and is considered to be the first christian martyr.
But stephen boasted in the grace of god, freely bestowed on undeserving sinners. If anything, stephens words are an indictment, not a defense. Yet stephen is the first martyr and his speech summarizing some important theological points in the transition between peters ministry in. The companion to the gospel account luke wrote was acts, which retells the work of jesus spirit after his ascension, and the story of the movement of people he inspired. Stephen s final words were similar to jesus last words on the cross. Stephen, under attack and facing likely death, spoke the truth recorded by luke, acts 7. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses. Stephens being full of grace means that he was a gracious man. Discover what the bibles book of acts is all about. He was mentioned in the acts of the apostles and is considered to be one of the first martyrs, having been stoned to death. According to the fifth book of the bibles new testament, the acts of the apostles, stephen was denounced for blasphemy after a dispute with. But for those who read its words more purposefully, they will find blessing and encouragement, as they take in the powerful events that would begin to shape the church into the mighty organism that it is.
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