articlesforchristians

Stephen Chosen

• The church was growing so fast, they had as start sharing responsibilities. They were not spending enough time in prayer, preaching, and teaching the Word of God. Seven men were chosen, one was Stephen.
• Stephen’s Qualifications
  • Stephen was full of “faith and power”
    • Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
  • He not only did what God wanted him to do, but he looked for other opportunities to serve.
  • He was so successful that he was picked as a target by the enemies of the church.
• Stephen on Trial
  • Stephen’s opponents were no match for his wisdom and spirit.
    • Acts 6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
  • They hired false witnesses to testify against him.
    • Acts 6:13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
    • This is similar to what they did against Jesus.
      • Mark 14:55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together.
• Stephen Preaches and Dies
  • Men testified against Stephen, but they could not change his character.
  • The Jewish leaders became alarmed when they saw his shining face as an angel.
  • He preached about the way God dealt with Israel in the Old Testament.
  • He preached truths they could not contradict.
  • He finished up by proclaiming that his listeners had betrayed and slain the Son of God.
  • In anger, they cast him out of the city and stoned him to death.
    • Acts 7:57-60 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
  • One of the leaders of the persecution was Saul of Tarsus, who was a witness of and gave consent to have Stephen killed
  • As a result of the persecution, the truth spread into all of Judea and Samaria and into all the world.

Saul’s Part

• Chapter 9 of The Book of Acts describes the conversion of Saul who became known as
  Paul.
• Paul is a key figure in the New Testament.
• Saul the Persecutor
  • When the Jewish leaders had stoned Stephen to death, Saul was in agreement with their
    actions
  • Saul launched an all-out persecution of the church.
    • Acts 8:3 (KJV) As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and
      haling men and women committed them to prison
      • Hale: to compel to go
• Saul on the Damascus Road
  • On the way to Damascus, a bright light from heaven shone around Paul; then be heard a
    voice.
  • Paul had an encounter with Jesus and was fully persuaded to surrender to Him.
    • Acts 9:2-9 (KJV) And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
    • 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
    • 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
    • 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
    • 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
    • 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
    • 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
    • 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
  • Paul’s life was never the same from that point on.
  • It is the same with our conversion to Jesus:
• Saul Receives His Sight
  • Saul was blinded by what he saw.
  • He was led to Damascus where the Lord sent him for further instructions, telling him he would find help there.
  • After Paul prayed and fasted for three days, the Lord sent a messenger to him.
  • A disciple named Ananias visited Saul, laid hands on him, and prayed,
  • Immediately, Saul received his sight and was filled with the Holy Ghost and Ananias baptized Paul.
    • Acts 9:17-18 (KJV) And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
  • Paul received both physical and spiritual sight that day.
    • Acts 9:19-21 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.  But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
      • straightway: Strong’s G2112 – eutheōs
        • εὐθέως euthéōs, yoo-theh’-oce; adverb from G2117; directly, i.e. at once or soon:—anon, as soon as, forthwith, immediately, shortly, straightway.