Charges: Acquitted
Charges: Acquitted
Acts 7:1-60
You are on trial for your life. The prosecuting attorney delivers a masterful opening statement recounting each one of the charges brought against you. The words are powerful and convincing. The prosecuting attorney finishes his last words and sits down, you take a deep breath and turn towards your defense attorney, but there is no one there. You are on trial for your life and no one is there to speak for you. The charges are serious and your life hangs in the balance and you are alone. You are alone to face the judge without a defense. The judge is about to issue the verdict and you wake up in a cold sweat, thankful it was only a nightmare.
Friends, most of us will never stand trial for our lives in a human court, but every single person will stand before God and give a defense for the heavenly courtroom. How can we prepare for the trial of our life? How can we be ready to give a defense for the charges brought against us?
Stephen was on trial for his life. The charges were brought against him. He was accused of blasphemy against God and the temple. He was accused of speaking against Moses and the customs he delivered. He was brought before his accusers, before the high priest who would judge his case and was asked the simple question, “Are these things so?”
What can we learn from Stephen’s defense? What can we glean from hearing his argument? How can his defense prepare us for our own? And as we focus on what this means for ourselves, we can’t lose what this scene means for the advancement of the kingdom of God. Remember the disciples' question at the beginning of the book, they asked Jesus, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Stephen was a man full of faith and wisdom and of the Holy Spirit. Stephen performed signs and wonders among the people. He spoke by the Holy Spirit so no one could withstand his wisdom. He even looked like an angel. Luke draws a very clear comparison with Stephen and the Lord Jesus. And as we will see, Stephen is not the real one who is on trial, who needs to defend himself. The high priest, representing all of Jerusalem, accuses Stephen and by extension accuses Jesus, his followers, and the message of the gospel. “Are these things so?”
A Common Ancestry (v.1-16)
Stephen does not begin directly with the charges brought against him in how he spoke against Moses, but rather chooses to begin at the beginning of Israel and the father of faith. Stephen begins with identifying their common ancestry. Acts 7:2–8,
[2] And Stephen said:
“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, [3] and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ [4] Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. [5] Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. [6] And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. [7] ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ [8] And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
Stephen first identities their common heritage, “The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham.” And even as he talks with Abraham, Stephen’s first begins with the God of glory. God is the main character of his defense. The God who revealed himself as,
The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgressions and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the inquiry of the fathers on the children and the children’s children to the third and fourth generation. (Exodus 34:6-7)
Even notice the subtle details Stephen shares of Abraham. He went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. He did not make it all the way to the promised land. As one pastor noted, “God is merciful and does more than merely tell Abraham to go on to the promised land; he actually move him–exerts some special power on Abraham.Verse 4b, ‘And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living.” God called Abraham and gave him a promise then he gave him the covenant of circumcision.
Stephen moves from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob and the twelve patriarchs. The twelve patriarchs would have represented all of Israel. And notice how the patriarchs treated Joseph. Acts 7:9–16, Stephen continues,
[9] “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him [10] and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. [11] Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. [12] But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. [13] And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. [14] And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. [15] And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, [16] and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
Notice how it was the rejection of Joseph by the patriarchs that brought salvation to them. God was faithful to save Israel even when they rejected the one who would bring deliverance. They were jealous of Joseph so they rejected him. As the high priest heard those words, I wonder if his conscience was pricked. Remember Acts 5:17, “But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in public prison.” Stephen is subtly building his argument, before he makes it abundantly clear.
The Clear Argument (v. 17-53)
After laying the groundwork of their common ancestry and common history with Abraham and Joseph, Stephen turns to their main accusation of how he was speaking against Moses. And note how Stephen continues to trace God’s hand in their history. This is crucial for his argument. Acts 7:17–29
[17] “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt [18] until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. [19] He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. [20] At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house, [21] and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. [22] And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
[23] “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. [24] And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. [25] He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. [26] And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ [27] But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? [28] Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ [29] At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
Look at the commentary of Moses’ intention, which was not given in Exodus 3, but is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit in verse 25, “He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.” Since those words were not in Exodus, they would have most likely been highlighted with neon lights for their hearers. Stephen was not speaking only of the past. He was speaking to his accusers.
Notice how Stephen highlights how God will use Moses, his servant as ruler and redeemer. And if you pay careful attention to his words, Luke is connecting Stephen’s words with the accusations not only against him in Acts 6 but against the accusations “this man” Jesus during all the trials and sermons in Jerusalem. Acts 7:30–38,
[30] “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. [31] When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: [32] ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. [33] Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. [34] I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’
[35] “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. [36] This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. [37] This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ [38] This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.
At this point in the sermon, everyone should know where he is going. This Moses, whom they rejected, this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer. This man performed wonders and signs. This man, Moses, said, “God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.” A prophet will perform wonders and signs who will be rejected whom God sent as both ruler and redeemer.
Stephen is building his case that Jesus is the one to fulfill the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18:15, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers–it is him you shall listen.” God made this clear to the disciples when the Lord Jesus was transfigured before them with Moses and Elijah and a voice rang out from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Jesus Christ is the one we shall listen to. He is the one sent by God to be our ruler and redeemer. And just like the prophets who were before him, he was rejected. And it was in his rejection that brought us salvation.
This is the turning point of the sermon and this is the part where we have to really focus our attention. Verse 39 reveals that the Jews were the one who were actually on trial. Stephen was laying out his accusations against them. And maybe by laying out accusations against some of you here today. Stephen sharpens the point of his argument, Acts 7:39–50,
[39] Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, [40] saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ [41] And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. [42] But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
[43] You took up the tent of Moloch
and the star of your god Rephan,
the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
[44] “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. [45] Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, [46] who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. [47] But it was Solomon who built a house for him. [48] Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,
[49] “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?
[50] Did not my hand make all these things?’ (ESV)
[51] “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. [52] Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, [53] you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” (ESV)
Stephen makes his case very clear. Stephen says, “Our fathers were idol worshipers who refused to obey the Holy Spirit.” Stephen then makes a distinction, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute.” Stephen has been converted. He has changed allegiances. He no longer rejects the Messiah, but has embraced him. He is no longer on trial for he is no longer condemned. He is in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ has died for him. Jesus Christ was raised for him. Jesus Christ has promised to return for him. Stephen is not the one on trial for he is a true witness speaking against his accusers who reject the Messiah and resist the Holy Spirit.
As I was praying through this passage, I was really struggling how to apply the text to our congregation and then I read a sermon by John Piper who helped me see the great warning in this passage for Christians. Friends, Do you have hearts for Egypt? Verse 40, “Our fathers refused to obey [Moses], but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt.” What is a heart that is turned to Egypt? It is a heart that is turned to this world. It is a heart that rejects our need for salvation and trusts and rejoices in the works of our hands. The Jews refused to obey Moses but instead, made a calf, and offered a sacrifice to it, and “rejoiced in the works of their hands.” Stephen was being accused of speaking against the temple, the temple which Jesus said he would destroy and rebuild in three days, for even though Solomon built the temple for him, verse 48, “the Most high does not dwell in houses made by hands.” John Piper wrote these words over 25 years ago which still ring true today,
And right here we get to the heart of Stephen's warning for us in this message. What was the root evil in all this resistance to God's will? Why did they resist the Holy Spirit (v. 51)?...The root evil in many in Israel was that they derived their joy—their fulfillment, their meaning, their sense of significance—from what they could achieve with their own hands. Verse 41: "They rejoiced in the works of their hands." They wanted a kind of god and a kind of worship in which they could demonstrate their own power and their own wisdom and their own righteousness and their own morality and their own religious zeal. They got their joy from what they could achieve and not from God. Especially not from a God so free and so great and so sovereign and so self-sufficient that he gets all the credit for everything good, and won't let himself be limited or controlled by anybody's man-made temple. The temple in Jerusalem had become for many in Israel a symbol of what they could achieve—the work of their hands. And therefore the worship there had become a subtle form of self-worship—all very religious, using all the right language, but coming from uncircumcised hearts and stiff, unsubmissive, self-exalting necks.
Sadly, the subtle form of self-worship in the evangelical church is all too common. Where do we get our ultimate joy? Do we rejoice in the work of Christ or the work of our own hands? Are you craving the approval of man or of Christ?
As I think of all the Lord has done in our church over the last year, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s kindness to us. We have planted a new gospel preaching, Bible believing church in our city, we have merged with another church, we have increased our missions giving, we have far exceeded our budget, we have shared the gospel with hundreds of people, we have witnessed baptisms and increased our membership by another 75 people this year. And yet, we fundamentally did none of it. We plant, we water, but only God brings the increase. My fear for us as a congregation and for you as individuals, is that you will not rejoice in God but in the works of your hands. Beloved, if we boast, we boast in the Lord. For he says,
Heaven is my throne,
And earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?
We cannot build his house. Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers labor in vain. God must build his house. He must build his church. We can never fall under the allusion that our spiritual success is the result of the works of our hands.
The Concrete Anger (v. 54)
How do you respond when you are confronted with sin? How you respond is an indicator of your spiritual health. The spiritual health of Stephen’s hearers was not good. Acts 7:54, “Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.” When someone points out your sin, or confronts your idols, you should be thankful. You should be grateful that God loves you enough to reveal your false hopes. A stiff-necked, uncircumcised, proud, stubborn heart rejects rebuke. A humble, gracious, godly, born-again heart invites rebuke. Which kind of heart do you have?
I am not an angry person. By God’s grace, I rarely fly off the handle or raise my voice. It hasn’t been one of my main struggles, but that doesn’t mean I don’t battle being stiff-necked. For me, it is how I desire to justify myself. When I am criticized, my fleshly response is not thankfulness but judgment. My knee-jerk response is to dismiss the critique and self-justify myself. And by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, he usually works on my self-justifying, stiff-necked heart, and reminds me of my need for Christ and how he alone justifies me. And then normally, I am able to turn to God once again and remind my heart of the gospel. I am a great sinner, but Christ is an even greater Savior. Friend, what kind of heart do you have?
The Court Advocate (v. 55-58)
Stephen was not trusting in his own righteousness. He did not resist the Holy Spirit, but embraced him. He loved Jesus Christ. If you are in Christ, you do not have to fear the great judgment of God. After the evil one lays out his accusations against you, after all your sins are laid before the holy Judge, and you will not see your judge on the bench, but standing next to you defending your case. For Christians, we know we cannot defend ourselves. We know we are guilty and deserve punishment, but we know we have an Advocate before the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Jesus Christ is seated at the hand of God refers to his position of absolute authority on the throne in the ruling over his creation. But notice what Stephen sees, Acts 7:55–56,
[55] But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. [56] And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Jesus stood up from his throne to welcome Stephen into his kingdom. There could be no better image at the time of our death than the Lord Jesus. He delights in the salvation of his servant so much that he stands to greet him.
Death is a tragic curse in our world. But death also serves saints to intensify their trust and desire for Jesus Christ. Countless saints throughout the ages have learned the sweet fellowship of God that comes when they experience their bodies failing and knowing their time has come to meet Jesus face to face. Beloved, one day we will all take our last breath. In this world it may be alone in nursing home, or surrounded by grieving friends, or in front of those who hate us, but in the world to come we are greeted with a thunderous roar and a heavenly welcome and will finally be able to physically embrace our Savior, our Lord, our Friend, our King. Death is horrible evil, but it paves the way to eternal delight for the Christian.
A Closing Appeal (v. 59-60)
In his death, Stephen offers two last appeals to God. He asks the Lord to welcome his spirit and to be merciful to those who killed him. Acts 7:57–60,
[57] But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. [58] Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. [59] And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [60] And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (ESV)
Stephen was rejected like Jesus. Stephen died outside the gate like the Lord Jesus. Stephen cried out to God with a loud voice and gave up his spirit like the Lord Jesus. And while he was dying he asked the Lord not to hold this sin against them. And like the Lord Jesus, he died. And like the Lord Jesus, he will rise again.
The Spirit which empowered Stephen to die in hope still resides in his church today. Shelby Houston stood this past week to speak for her father , Richard, who died in the line of duty as a police officer. She said,
I remember having conversations with my dad about him losing friends and officers in the line of duty.I have heard all the stories you can think of, but I always had such a hard time with how the suspect is dealt with. Not that I didn't think there should be justice served, but my heart always ached for those who don't know Jesus — their actions being a reflection of that. My prayer is that someday down the road, I get to spend some time with the man who shot my father — not to scream at him, not to yell at him, not to scold him — but to simply to tell him about Jesus."
Stephen and Shelby know their eternity is secure because Jesus is alive. Hebrews 13:12–16
[12] So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. [13] Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. [14] For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. [15] Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. [16] Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Beloved, this is our charge. We must be willing like Stephen to bear the reproach from this world for we belong to the city that is to come. So let us do good and share what we have for this pleases the Lord.
Beloved, make Jesus your greatest treasure, and put all your hope on that day when our Lord stands to welcome us home.