Week #21 — STEPHEN’S SERMON PART 3: THE RIGHTEOUS ONE
For my daughter, dance began as an interest, became a passion, and ended as a craft. Ballet, contemporary, modern, and jazz added up to countless rehearsals and numerous performances and recitals. While I appreciated all of them, I am most grateful to have been at the final rehearsal of her senior year. The recital closed out with a modern piece just for the seniors, which we watched from just offstage. At the curtain call, all the seniors’ families walked out onto the stage. We embraced our daughter during what was already a roaring standing ovation, as we witnessed her joy as the audience showed their appreciation for her years of hard work and dedication.
Yet, in the end, as wonderful as that standing ovation was, it came from an otherwise ordinary audience (myself included). In Acts 7:42-60, as he delivers hard truths, Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr at the hands of those who refuse to listen. Nearing his moment of death, Stephen sees the Lord Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God. It’s a standing ovation of sorts, an ultimate “Well done, good and faithful servant.” J.R.R. Tolkien writes in The Two Towers that: “The praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards.” Stephen receives an acknowledgement of his steadfast faith from the very Author of faith itself. May we love and serve the Lord so that, at our end, we might receive the same.
Read the passage together, and then work through the discussion questions.
In Christ,
Pastor Ken
Week #21 — Questions
- Notice how Stephen’s tone and content sharpen in v42-53? What changes do you see as he shifts from recounting Israel’s history to directly confronting his audience?
- Stephen accuses the leaders of resisting the Holy Spirit and killing the Righteous One (v51-53). How does this charge place them in continuity with their ancestors who rejected and killed the prophets?
- Stephen speaks confrontationally to people with power over his life, showing he loves his enemies enough to tell them the cold, hard truth. What helps a believer discern when faithfulness requires clear confrontation rather than gentleness or even silence?
- Let’s jump back to the beginning of the passage. In v42, Stephen says that God “gave over” the people’s ancestors to the worship of created things. Read Psalm 81:11-12 and Romans 1:28-32. How does God’s decision to give people what they want function as a type of judgment upon them? Have you ever seen this happen to you or someone else?
- How does the violent reaction of the crowd (v54-58) reveal the depth of their refusal to listen? What does this show about the manner in which hearts become hardened toward God’s Word?
- When confronted with our own sin, the human tendency is to deny and defend rather than receive and repent. Why is it so hard? And, knowing this, how should we respond when a Christian brother or sister confronts or accuses us?
- Why is Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God (vv55-56) so significant? How does this vision affirm Jesus’ lordship and Stephen’s witness at the moment of death?
- As Stephen dies, he entrusts himself to Jesus and prays for forgiveness for his killers (v59-60), both of which are similar to what Jesus did and said at his crucifixion. How should Stephen’s response shape our understanding of faithful witness, suffering, and Christlike love in the face of persecution? What might that look like in our own time and place?