THEY STONED STEPHEN

Acts 7:51-60

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. In Acts 7:51-60 we have the account of the stoning of Stephen.
   B. Stephen revealed to those evil Jews the unfaithfulness of their
      fathers.
      1. He showed that their fathers had persecuted the true men of
         God.
      2. They had slain many of those who were sent to them by God.
      3. As their fathers had done, so they were doing.
   C. As was done to the prophets, and as was done to Stephen, so it 
      is done in our time to the true people of God.
      1. A strict adherence to the gospel, along with teaching it,   
         has always been the cause of stoning. 2 Tim. 3:12
      2. Today's stones are mainly verbal stones, but they are stones
         nonetheless.
         a. If they will throw verbal stones, they would also throw
            real stones if they could get by with it. 
         b. Today's persecutors have the same evil heart of unbelief.
   D. Remember, Jesus said, Matt. 5:11-12.

I. VERSES 51-53.
   A. Verse 51a.
      1. They were stubborn and obstinate. Ex. 32:9; Deut. 10:16
      2. This evil trait didn't die with the Jews of Stephen's day.  
         Many are stubborn and bull-headed today.
         a. In Colorado, several people begged a trucker to free
            the channel so that they could put through an emergency
            call, but he refused to cooperate. They wanted to direct
            a doctor to the scene of a serious accident. An
            automobile had driven into the rear of a flatbed trailer
            carrying metal tubing. A piece of pipe had gone through
            the car's windshield, pinning a woman in the wreckage.
            The trucker continued to tie up the channel, frustrating
            all attempts to obtain help. Finally he came upon the
            scene of the accident himself. To his utter dismay, he
            discovered that the critically injured person was his own
            wife! When a doctor did arrive, he said that if he had
            been notified even 10 minutes earlier, the woman's
            chances for survival would have been much greater. 
   B. Verse 51b.
      1. Many resist the Holy Spirit today.
      2. Any who will not listen to the Word of God are resisting the
         Holy Spirit. 
         a. Rom. 2:5
   C. Verse 52a.
      1. 2 Chron. 36:15-16; Matt. 23:34-37.
      2. The true teachers today will be persecuted and the false    
         ones will be commended. Luke 6:26
   D. Verse 52b.
      1. They had now become betrayers and murders of the Just
         One.
      2. Stephen was unmistakably plain; he showed them their sin.
         a. Preachers in like manner need to humbly and fearlessly
            show the brethren their sins. Isa. 58:1
            (1) This is the hardest thing to do as a preacher. It
                takes courage. He must do it even when he knows
                that stones will begin to fly.
   E. Verse 53.
      1. You would think that the Jews would want to obey the Law
         because it would have been for their good. Deut. 10:12-13
         a. We would affirm that they were very foolish for not
            obeying it; yet, how about us? James 1:25
         b. The Jews should have learned the significance of the
            expression, "That it may be well with thee."  Deut.
            6:13,18 We need to learn it also. Eph. 6:2-3

II. VERSE 54.
   A. Peter's preaching was the same as Stephen's, but it caused a   
      far different reaction. Acts 2:22, 36-37
      1. Preaching will always have these same results and we must
         be prepared for either. "The same sun that melts the wax
         hardens the clay." 2 Cor. 2:15-16
         a. When anyone humbly submits to the gospel, rejoice and
            give thanks to God.
         b. When people reject it, we must not be discouraged, but
            continue to preach in season and out of season.
            (1) Preaching "in season and out of season" is said to
                be, "when they like it and when they don't like it."
         c. When they gnash at us (they did this literally to
            Stephen), when they heap persecutions upon us, it is a
            time for prayer and time to go to the Word of God for
            comfort and strength.
   B. When sinners can sit under a sermon without being cut to the
      heart, there is something wrong with the preaching.

III. VERSES 55-56.
   A. When Stephen looked up into heaven, he saw Jesus "standing" on
      the right hand of God. 
      1. This is the only verse that mentions Jesus "standing" on the
         right hand of God. All others state that He is "sitting"    
         there.
         a. This reminds me of the story about a grandmother with
            her little grandson. She was showing him all the beauties
            of nature and said, "All this was made by the hand of
            God. The little boy said, "Yes, He made it all with His
            left hand." The grandmother said, "What do you mean,
            His left hand?" He said, "They taught us in Bible class
            that Jesus was sitting on the right hand of God."
      2. Jesus "standing" on the right hand emphasizes that Jesus was
         interested and concerned about His servant Stephen.
         a. Jesus is likewise interested and concerned about all of
            his servants. He knows their every trial, pain,
            disappointment, and tear. Luke 12:6-7
         b. He gives strength and courage to those who put their
            trust in Him. Phil. 4:13; Ezek. 37:1-10

IV. VERSES 57-58.
   A. The charge that they had killed the Just One, and now, that
      Stephen said he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God,   
      was more than they could take.
      1. They became a screaming and howling mob and acted like
         madmen.
      2. There was no trial, no vote, and no question as to what was
         the right thing. They rushed upon him, took him out of the
         city and stoned him to death.
         a. This was in opposition to the civil law they were under.
            John 18:31
         b. Also, it was in direct opposition to God and was a
            terrible sin. It is bad enough to be wicked and immoral,
            but to add to this the persecution of God's people,
            brings the wrath of God to the uttermost. 1 Thess. 2:15-
            16.
   B. Verse 58b is the first mention of Saul.
      1. Undoubtedly, Paul thought of this incident many times when
         he was being persecuted for the same cause for which
         Stephen died.
      2. We, too, must be careful that we don't persecute God's
         people. We could do it through ignorance; therefore, we
         must diligently study the Scriptures so that we can identify
         the true people of God.
         a. Some are so ignorant of God's way that they persecute
            God's people thinking they are doing service to God.
            John 16:2
         b. In my lifetime as a preacher I have often seen so-called
            brethren bitterly persecute the very ones who were
            holding to the truth. This is a serious matter.

V. VERSES 59-60.
   A. The angry mob stoned Stephen to death.
   B. Stephen had the spirit of Christ. He died in the same way our
      Master did.
      1. "Receive my spirit." Luke 23:46
      2. "Lay not this sin to their charge." Luke 23:34
   C. Stephen was willing to forgive; he didn't hold a grudge, not   
      even against the ones who had so mistreated him.
      1. Compare this to some brethren who think they have been
         hurt (they might have been, but often it is only imaginary)
         and forever hold a grudge against their brother. James 5:9
   D. Verse 60b says that Stephen "fell asleep."
      1. Our English word "cemetery" comes from this Greek word
         which means "the sleeping of the dead."
      2. This is a wholesome thought about death (sleeping) rather
         than the usual harshness that men associate with it. 1      
         Thess. 4:13

Concl.
   A. The gospel must be preached to lost sinners. Some will obey;
      some will not. We have looked at a vivid example of some who
      didn't.
      1. Even in the face of persecution, we must continue to preach.
         Our goal is to save ourselves and some who hear us.
   B. Stephen was a great man.
      1. The thing that made him great was that he died in the Lord.
      2. There have been many unjust killings since the beginning of
         the world.
      3. The thing that matters is "dying in the Lord."
   C. If you were to die today, would you die in the Lord? Num.      
      23:10; Rev. 14:13.
      1. You can't die in the Lord unless you live in the Lord. You
         cannot live in the Lord until you get into Him, and you     
         can't get into Him until you are baptized into Him. Gal.    
         3:26-27
   D. If you are subject to the Lord's invitation, will you not obey 
      Him today?