WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.940 Now, as Dan already mentioned, we are continuing this series in Acts that we started last year. 00:00:06.940 --> 00:00:11.820 Some people asked, are we going to do Acts again? No, no, we're continuing because it's a rather long book. 00:00:12.620 --> 00:00:19.320 And so, yeah, why don't you open your Bibles to chapter 6 already? In a moment Annabelle will read. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:26.859 But, yeah, I thought let me just talk a little bit about what happened because some of you are new, some of you weren't here last year. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:32.219 Yeah, what is this book of Acts? So I thought let's start there. 00:00:32.519 --> 00:00:37.299 And the reason we're starting, we're starting actually at 6 verse 8. That seems so random. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:42.359 But the reason is 6 verse 7. If you look at 6 verse 7, it says, 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:48.939 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. 00:00:49.620 --> 00:00:55.379 The word of God, the gospel, increasing and multiplying. That is what we see in the book of Acts. 00:00:55.380 --> 00:00:59.179 And the same phrase, it occurs three times, dividing the book into four parts. 00:00:59.620 --> 00:01:02.380 We did the first part last year. This is the second part. 00:01:03.100 --> 00:01:06.799 And, yeah, it's, you know, why is the gospel increasing? 00:01:07.020 --> 00:01:09.260 Well, this is what Jesus is doing, right? 00:01:09.320 --> 00:01:12.219 At the start of the book, you know, Jesus, of course, he died. 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:13.879 He rose again. He went to heaven. 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:15.500 And he gave the spirit. 00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:21.060 And the spirit who would, you know, make people prophesy and, you know, make people believe. 00:01:21.219 --> 00:01:22.319 And that's what we see happen. 00:01:22.399 --> 00:01:27.799 It's such an exciting book as thousands and thousands of people come to faith in Jesus. 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.739 And, yeah, form the church and form this beautiful new community. 00:01:31.739 --> 00:01:32.539 It's really great. 00:01:33.299 --> 00:01:34.859 Of course, not everything was perfect. 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:36.919 There are some hypocrites in the church. 00:01:37.340 --> 00:01:38.459 And God deals with them. 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:42.339 The church grows and some minorities get overlooked. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:44.419 Again, they do something about that. 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:48.219 They get a team of deacons to help out with that. 00:01:48.459 --> 00:01:50.299 One of them is Stephen, who we're going to meet today. 00:01:51.039 --> 00:01:53.319 Also, there's rising opposition. 00:01:53.979 --> 00:01:55.519 Not everyone likes the church. 00:01:55.639 --> 00:01:58.959 Not everyone likes their message, particularly the Jewish leaders. 00:01:59.679 --> 00:02:00.839 Because what is the church saying? 00:02:00.899 --> 00:02:02.500 Well, the Jewish leaders, they killed Jesus. 00:02:02.500 --> 00:02:04.280 But God raised him, right? 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:07.900 And it's not really nice to be reminded of that crime you've done. 00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:13.259 And so, yeah, there's been a few run-ins for the leaders with the authorities. 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:16.939 Well, that brings us then to today's passage. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:18.599 It's a very long passage. 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:20.039 It's 71 verses. 00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:23.300 The whole book of Jonah was only 48 verses. 00:02:23.860 --> 00:02:25.439 So we've got a lot to cover. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:29.620 So, you know, my guess is you'll have lots of questions that I'm not going to answer. 00:02:29.620 --> 00:02:31.060 Please come and talk to me afterwards. 00:02:31.740 --> 00:02:36.900 But I hope we can read enough and see it as one thing. 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:41.400 Yeah, because it is a big step in God's plan. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:45.620 But let's pray, and then Annabelle will come up and read for us. 00:02:49.259 --> 00:02:50.500 Father, thank you for your word. 00:02:50.759 --> 00:02:52.219 Thank you as living and active. 00:02:52.620 --> 00:02:57.219 Thank you what we see of how your word worked back then and how you're still at work today. 00:02:57.219 --> 00:03:00.419 Pray that you would speak to each one of us as Annabelle reads, as we hear your word. 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:03.900 And then as I try to, yeah, say a few words about the passage. 00:03:04.419 --> 00:03:10.060 Father, please speak to each of our hearts where we are at, yeah, to encourage us and to change us. 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:11.259 In Jesus' name. 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:11.960 Amen. 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:12.060 Amen. 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:24.879 Today's scripture reading is taken from Acts chapter 6, verse 8 to chapter 7, verse 3. 00:03:25.020 --> 00:03:29.960 And then we'll go to chapter 7, verse 35 to chapter 8, verse 3. 00:03:30.540 --> 00:03:32.360 Please follow along in your Bibles. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:38.200 And if you don't have a Bible, please do grab one now from the front of the stage or at the back near the door. 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:44.699 And our passage can be found on page 860, 860 of the Church Bible. 00:03:48.839 --> 00:03:54.599 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 00:03:55.500 --> 00:04:00.079 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the freedmen, as is what called, 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:05.500 and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and Asia, 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:08.180 rose up and disputed with Stephen. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:13.960 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:17.720 Then they secretly instigated men who said, 00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:22.240 We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:26.759 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes. 00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:31.139 And they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council. 00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:34.319 And they set up false witnesses who said, 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:39.360 This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law. 00:04:39.919 --> 00:04:45.500 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:48.779 and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us. 00:04:50.219 --> 00:04:57.060 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. 00:04:57.060 --> 00:05:00.540 And the high priest said, 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:02.399 Are these things so? 00:05:03.780 --> 00:05:05.040 And Stephen said, 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:08.259 Brothers and fathers, hear me. 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:14.019 The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:15.899 before he lived in Haran, 00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:17.660 and said to him, 00:05:17.779 --> 00:05:22.680 Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you. 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:24.860 In the following verses, 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:30.319 Stephen goes on to speak about God's dealings with Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:37.980 We now pick up Stephen's speech again at chapter 7, verse 35, which is on page 861. 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:41.699 At verse 35, we continue to read, 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:45.539 This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, 00:05:45.779 --> 00:05:47.879 Who made you a ruler and a judge? 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:55.560 This man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 00:05:56.259 --> 00:06:06.360 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for 40 years. 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:10.280 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:14.720 God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. 00:06:15.540 --> 00:06:18.819 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness, 00:06:19.400 --> 00:06:22.220 with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:23.900 and with our fathers. 00:06:24.540 --> 00:06:27.600 He received living oracles to give to us. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:31.100 Our fathers refused to obey him, 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:36.020 but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:37.819 Saying to Aaron, 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:41.220 Make for us gods who will go before us. 00:06:41.939 --> 00:06:44.939 As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, 00:06:45.280 --> 00:06:47.740 we do not know what has become of him. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:51.080 And they made a calf in those days, 00:06:51.840 --> 00:06:54.020 and offered a sacrifice to the idol, 00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:56.759 and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 00:06:57.540 --> 00:07:01.800 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:04.759 as it is written in the book of the prophets. 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:11.599 Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices during the 40 years in the wilderness, 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:13.000 O house of Israel? 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.099 You took up the tent of Moloch, 00:07:16.459 --> 00:07:18.360 and the star of your god, Rephan. 00:07:19.420 --> 00:07:21.779 The images that you made to worship, 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:25.939 and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon. 00:07:25.939 --> 00:07:31.360 Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:33.420 just as he spoke to Moses, 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:37.319 directed him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen. 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:41.420 Our fathers, in turn, brought it in with Joshua, 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:46.060 when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:49.860 So it was until the days of David, 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:52.160 who found favor in the sight of God, 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:56.120 and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 00:07:56.939 --> 00:07:59.780 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:05.319 Yet, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands. 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:07.219 As the prophet says, 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:09.240 Heaven is my throne, 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:12.079 and the earth is my footstool. 00:08:12.839 --> 00:08:15.060 What kind of house will you build for me? 00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:16.240 Says the Lord. 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:18.839 Or what is the place of my rest? 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:22.939 Did not my hand make all these things? 00:08:24.659 --> 00:08:26.259 You stiff-necked people, 00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:28.680 uncircumcised in heart and ears, 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:31.180 you always resist the Holy Spirit. 00:08:31.180 --> 00:08:33.960 As your fathers did, 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.399 so do you. 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:39.460 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:43.080 And they killed those who announced beforehand 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:45.100 the coming of the righteous one, 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:48.899 whom you have now betrayed and murdered. 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:53.080 You who received the law as delivered by angels, 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:54.980 and did not keep it. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:58.519 Now when they heard these things, 00:08:58.600 --> 00:08:59.620 they were enraged, 00:08:59.620 --> 00:09:01.960 and they ground their teeth at him. 00:09:02.659 --> 00:09:03.480 But he, 00:09:04.019 --> 00:09:05.340 full of the Holy Spirit, 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:06.820 gazed into heaven, 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:08.860 and saw the glory of God. 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:13.060 And Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:14.820 And he said, 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:15.580 Behold, 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:18.019 I see the heavens opened, 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:21.799 and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:24.700 But they cried out with a loud voice, 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:25.840 and stopped their ears, 00:09:25.940 --> 00:09:27.299 and rushed together at him. 00:09:27.299 --> 00:09:29.919 Then they cast him out of the city, 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:31.439 and stoned him. 00:09:32.259 --> 00:09:34.620 And the witnesses laid down their garments 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:37.479 at the feet of a young man named Saul. 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:40.879 And as they were stoning Stephen, 00:09:41.199 --> 00:09:42.079 he called out, 00:09:42.419 --> 00:09:43.179 Lord Jesus, 00:09:43.479 --> 00:09:44.799 receive my spirit. 00:09:45.899 --> 00:09:47.379 And falling to his knees, 00:09:47.459 --> 00:09:49.339 he cried out with a loud voice, 00:09:49.699 --> 00:09:50.039 Lord, 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.299 do not hold this sin against them. 00:09:52.299 --> 00:09:54.799 And when he had said this, 00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:56.259 he fell asleep. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:01.079 And Saul approved of his execution. 00:10:02.459 --> 00:10:05.139 And there arose on that day a great persecution 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:06.779 against the church in Jerusalem. 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:11.679 And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:13.399 except the apostles. 00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:18.899 Devout man buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:22.079 But Saul was ravaging the church. 00:10:22.959 --> 00:10:25.259 And entering house after house, 00:10:25.699 --> 00:10:29.579 he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 00:10:29.580 --> 00:10:31.320 This is the word of God. 00:10:36.040 --> 00:10:36.480 All right. 00:10:36.520 --> 00:10:36.980 Thanks so much, 00:10:37.060 --> 00:10:37.340 Annabelle. 00:10:38.020 --> 00:10:38.860 It's a long passage. 00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:40.400 But, 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:40.940 yeah, 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:42.500 a very famous story. 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:44.220 I don't know about you. 00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:45.200 I guess 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:46.840 it's wonderful to come here, 00:10:46.900 --> 00:10:47.040 right? 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:49.860 Sunday is like the highlight of the week for most of us. 00:10:50.160 --> 00:10:51.139 It's so great to, 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:51.360 you know, 00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:52.080 to get together, 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:52.780 to sing, 00:10:52.940 --> 00:10:53.620 to hear preaching, 00:10:54.020 --> 00:10:54.780 to chat. 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:58.019 And it can feel so far removed from normal life, 00:10:58.120 --> 00:10:58.539 doesn't it? 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:00.240 Because tomorrow, 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:00.779 well, 00:11:00.839 --> 00:11:05.259 you're back at work and it's spreadsheets and emails and commuting and, 00:11:05.779 --> 00:11:06.179 well, 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:08.240 or maybe you're home and there's nappies and, 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:08.919 you know, 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:11.519 potty training and those kinds of things. 00:11:11.579 --> 00:11:12.299 And that's all fun. 00:11:12.779 --> 00:11:15.799 Or maybe you're at uni with tests and books and exams. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:18.699 And we're in the middle of that. 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:20.019 And we really long for Sunday, 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:20.319 right? 00:11:20.659 --> 00:11:21.939 Sunday is special, 00:11:22.220 --> 00:11:22.480 right? 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:24.199 That's when we really meet with God. 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:27.360 But that sounds like life is quite hard, 00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:27.600 right? 00:11:27.699 --> 00:11:29.259 We have one and a half hours, 00:11:29.339 --> 00:11:30.539 maybe two hours on a Sunday. 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:34.139 And there's 166 other hours in the week. 00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:36.459 It's hard to live that way, 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:36.659 right? 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:39.559 If God really feels far away when we have to live for him, 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:39.980 but we, 00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:41.079 we feel alone. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:41.419 Well, 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:44.919 the wonderful thing is that God doesn't want us to live like that. 00:11:46.199 --> 00:11:48.240 Today's passage has really great news. 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:49.439 If you feel like that, 00:11:49.579 --> 00:11:50.000 this is, 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:50.879 yeah, 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:51.839 this passage, 00:11:52.079 --> 00:11:52.299 you know, 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:54.519 I don't know what you thought of when I read it, 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:55.879 that seems weird. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:57.480 How is this relevant? 00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:58.519 Actually, 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:02.019 this is one of the most wonderful truths about Christianity, 00:12:02.439 --> 00:12:02.699 about, 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:03.059 you know, 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.819 what we believe about the gospel, 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:07.019 about our life. 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:09.139 But how do we get there? 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:10.279 Because you probably wonder, 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:11.019 okay, 00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:13.419 here's a Christian being killed for their faith. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:13.919 What is, 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:15.519 you know, 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.779 what does it have to do with that? 00:12:17.539 --> 00:12:17.919 Well, 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:19.740 we need to think a bit about that. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:20.460 Now, 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:21.039 this passage, 00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:22.720 I think it is a bit confusing. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:24.820 In some ways, 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:25.960 many people wonder, 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:26.519 this is, 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:26.980 you know, 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:28.000 if you're writing a book, 00:12:28.060 --> 00:12:29.340 why would you include this? 00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:30.139 I mean, 00:12:30.180 --> 00:12:30.980 first of all, 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:32.919 it's quite a long passage, 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:33.180 right? 00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:35.680 Just about someone dying. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:38.979 The apostle James, 00:12:39.059 --> 00:12:39.919 he dies in chapter eight, 00:12:39.959 --> 00:12:40.919 he gets like one verse. 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:43.699 Why did we get 70 verses about Stephen? 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:45.859 Why did we get this really long speech? 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:46.819 Right? 00:12:46.859 --> 00:12:48.519 We know this famous speech that, 00:12:49.219 --> 00:12:49.519 you know, 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:51.579 the sermon that Peter gives at Pentecost, 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:51.859 right? 00:12:52.699 --> 00:12:53.019 Well, 00:12:53.539 --> 00:12:55.000 this speech is twice as long. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:56.239 It's the longest speech in the book. 00:12:57.559 --> 00:12:58.779 That's very weird. 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.699 Why is that here? 00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:01.539 Right? 00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:02.099 I mean, 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:05.899 we've mentioned there's growing opposition from the authorities. 00:13:06.319 --> 00:13:06.939 Three times, 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:09.339 there's like this meeting with the council. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.339 This is the third one, 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:10.519 right? 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:11.039 Chapter four, 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.699 chapter five, 00:13:11.819 --> 00:13:12.379 chapter seven. 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:14.279 And it gets worse every time. 00:13:15.459 --> 00:13:16.319 Chapter four, 00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:16.740 you know, 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:19.740 the two apostles are kind of put in prison for a night. 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:20.279 And then they, 00:13:20.699 --> 00:13:20.799 well, 00:13:20.819 --> 00:13:22.219 they get a warning and they go home. 00:13:22.719 --> 00:13:23.519 The second time, 00:13:23.579 --> 00:13:24.399 it's all the apostles. 00:13:24.719 --> 00:13:24.819 And, 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:25.159 you know, 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:25.699 the authorities, 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.639 they get really angry. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:27.759 They try to kill them, 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:28.759 but they, 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.059 they decide not to. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:31.340 And they, 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:32.980 they just beat them up and send them home. 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:34.059 But today, 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:34.699 as you heard, 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.460 yeah, 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:36.360 someone gets killed, 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:36.840 right? 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:38.340 And there's a big persecution. 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:39.500 Stephen, 00:13:39.699 --> 00:13:40.939 one of the seven deacons, 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:41.679 he's preaching, 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:43.199 doing miracles and, 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:43.879 you know, 00:13:43.939 --> 00:13:45.139 attracts a lot of opposition. 00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:45.679 So they, 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:46.500 they seize him, 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:47.379 bring him to the, 00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:49.899 to the leadership of the Jewish leaders, 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.659 the council, 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:51.519 you know, 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:51.779 we, 00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:51.799 we, 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:51.819 we, 00:13:51.819 --> 00:13:51.899 we, 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:51.980 we, 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:52.019 we, 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:52.080 we, 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.080 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.080 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.080 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.080 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.080 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.080 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.600 we, 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.080 we, 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:53.080 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:53.080 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:53.080 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:55.480 we, 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.480 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:59.259 Starts politely, but doesn't end very politely, as you've heard. 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:05.120 Yeah, and then, well, they drag him out of town and they stone him and he gets killed for his faith. 00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:06.620 Very sad. 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:12.300 But because it seems to be this climax, why isn't it at the end of the previous section, right? 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:15.460 The end of this section about Jerusalem. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.860 Well, that's because this speech is not an end. 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:19.659 It's a beginning. 00:14:20.560 --> 00:14:23.000 I think that's what God wants us to see. 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:23.840 This is a beginning. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:27.420 Stephen's, you know, the speech, the martyrdom, it's a catalyst. 00:14:27.660 --> 00:14:29.180 It's the start of something new. 00:14:29.660 --> 00:14:31.860 And this is what helps make it happen. 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:36.240 And so it's right that we are starting a new section with this speech. 00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:38.680 Because what is this section about? 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:41.340 What are we going to see over the next nine weeks? 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:44.800 Well, we see that the gospel goes out from Jerusalem. 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:47.200 The gospel is going out from Jerusalem. 00:14:47.800 --> 00:14:50.840 Because, you know, the first six chapters are very exciting. 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:54.240 But, you know, those thousands of believers, they're all Jewish. 00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:56.280 And they all live in Jerusalem. 00:14:57.160 --> 00:14:58.960 And they all meet every day in the temple. 00:14:59.660 --> 00:15:00.060 Right? 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:01.519 That is what the church was like. 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:03.280 That is what Christianity was like. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:06.199 But that's not God's plan. 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:11.360 And this section of Acts that we're doing now, that's where the gospel is no longer just Jewish. 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.699 It's going to Samaria. 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:15.679 There's all kinds of outsiders who are going to come in. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:18.059 It's even going to go to Gentiles. 00:15:18.179 --> 00:15:23.319 People, you know, the nations that are away from God, that have nothing to do with God. 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.559 That's where the gospel is going. 00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:25.799 And that's a big change. 00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:29.279 And this chapter, yeah, is the catalyst for that. 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.639 In two different ways. 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:35.519 I'll first look at, you know, I'll look at the speech later. 00:15:35.839 --> 00:15:36.859 The content of the speech. 00:15:36.939 --> 00:15:38.559 But first, you know, the event. 00:15:39.459 --> 00:15:42.859 And, yeah, this is the occasion for the gospel to go out. 00:15:43.319 --> 00:15:43.959 The occasion. 00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:46.879 After all, what happens? 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:53.199 Well, Stephen's speech, as you heard, it leads to him being, yeah, being killed. 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:54.720 And it's not just Stephen, right? 00:15:54.780 --> 00:15:58.140 Because the people are now really angry with the Christians. 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:06.600 And as you heard in 8 verse 1, and there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. 00:16:07.280 --> 00:16:13.440 And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:14.940 Right? 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:19.440 This, you know, maybe he should have been a bit more polite. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:23.220 But this, you know, what Stephen did, it led to persecution. 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:26.260 And, you know, all the believers were scattered in Judea and Samaria. 00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:31.040 But then again, Judea and Samaria, does that remind you of something if you've read Acts? 00:16:31.760 --> 00:16:32.640 It does, right? 00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:35.520 Because Jesus gave this commission at the start of the book. 00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:38.940 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:44.480 And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:46.880 Except the apostles haven't gone there yet, right? 00:16:46.900 --> 00:16:48.180 The believers haven't gone there yet. 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:54.599 Well, this thing is what sends a lot of believers to Judea and Samaria. 00:16:55.079 --> 00:16:57.039 This is part of the plan. 00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:59.079 And indeed, 8 verse 4. 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:02.319 Now, those who were scattered went about preaching the words. 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:08.559 Thanks to what happens, the gospel is now being preached in Judea and Samaria. 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:10.240 And it's going out. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:13.200 And it's more than that. 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:15.460 It really shows, okay, this is God's doing. 00:17:15.879 --> 00:17:17.000 This is God's plan. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:22.460 I don't know if you noticed that Stephen's death sounds really familiar, right? 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:24.779 If you know your Bible, some of you are new. 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:29.460 But if you know your Bibles and you hear Stephen's death, it sounds so familiar, right? 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:33.880 He was someone he has dragged before the Jewish council, right? 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:38.980 And there's false witnesses who claim that the temple was going to be destroyed. 00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:41.920 And he's going to get interrogated by the high priest. 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.819 Doesn't it sound familiar, right? 00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:46.480 Or some of the sayings, right? 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:49.400 How he says, what is it? 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:52.599 I see the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:56.460 And then as he dies, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:59.220 Lord, do not hold this sin against him. 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:02.420 Again, you notice, right? 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:03.440 That's Jesus. 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:06.819 Jesus, of course, yeah, he was, you know, dragged before the council. 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:07.779 False witnesses. 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:08.900 Destroying the temple. 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:13.640 And he said, well, the Son of Man is, shall we see the death of the right hand of the power of God? 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:16.460 Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:18.839 Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:21.640 And his death is exactly like Jesus. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.160 Well, not exactly the same. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:28.279 One thing that's interesting, who does Jesus pray to? 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:30.700 He prays to the Father. 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:32.359 Who does Stephen pray to? 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.200 Lord Jesus. 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:41.180 And maybe some people, they always say, oh, the first church, they just thought Jesus was a good teacher. 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:43.899 And then 300 years later, they decided he was God. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:48.619 No, Jesus is someone they pray to, someone who is standing at the right hand of God, right? 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:52.039 Jesus is really the Son of God. 00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:55.399 But Luke wants to say, Stephen's death is like Jesus. 00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:56.319 But why? 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:59.480 Why does he put all these details in? 00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.159 Right? 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:03.679 Well, why does he, you know, book would be a lot shorter without it. 00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:07.359 It's not just saying that Christians will suffer like Jesus. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:13.539 Actually, a few times in Acts, there's a death that looks a lot like Jesus' death. 00:19:13.659 --> 00:19:17.139 And always after that, you get this big move of the gospel. 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:21.419 Just with Jesus himself, and later with Peter, with Paul. 00:19:21.879 --> 00:19:26.219 But yeah, Jesus died and rose, and the gospel went out, right? 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:28.039 That's what he says. 00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:29.599 What did Jesus say is God's plan? 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:36.819 Well, end of Luke 24, thus it's written, the Christ should suffer and the third day rise from the dead. 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:42.839 And that repentance and forgiveness of sin should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:49.480 And so, you know, at the end of Luke, Jesus dies and rises, gospel goes out. 00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:52.179 And now Stephen dies, the gospel goes further. 00:19:52.459 --> 00:19:54.139 And then later, another one. 00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.899 And the gospel, a big step in the gospel. 00:19:56.299 --> 00:20:00.519 Constantly, big movements of the gospel come after this. 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:03.079 So, this is God doing it, right? 00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:10.160 This is a big move of the gospel, God's initiative, God's plan, God at work, right? 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:14.980 Again, we want to see lots of people believe. 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:17.319 If you're here as a visitor, we'd love you to come to believe. 00:20:17.379 --> 00:20:18.460 But that's not our idea. 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:22.339 That is God who wants the gospel to go. 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:24.680 God wants everyone to come to Jesus. 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:30.500 I don't know if you've ever been invited to a party and, you know, you ask, can I bring a friend? 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:33.200 And they kind of go, well, okay then, right? 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:39.320 That's, well, okay, not really, but that's not what God is like, right? 00:20:40.060 --> 00:20:42.120 God wants you to invite your friends. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:46.420 He wants you to make new friends so that you can invite them as well. 00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:53.380 You know, God wants to save people and he is making that happen. 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:55.700 And he does that in all kinds of ways. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:59.320 Of course, we saw in Jonah, he's in control. 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:02.180 He uses fishes and storms and worms and plants. 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:05.300 Here he uses persecution. 00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:13.080 But he uses things to get his plan done and get the gospel to spread. 00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:15.220 And that may involve suffering. 00:21:16.020 --> 00:21:19.180 I mean, at least it's good to know that it's for a purpose here, right? 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.300 You mean Stephen didn't die for nothing. 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:22.000 Just like Jesus. 00:21:22.120 --> 00:21:23.360 Jesus didn't die for nothing. 00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:26.180 And maybe we go through things. 00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:28.880 It's good to know as a Christian, it's not for nothing. 00:21:29.300 --> 00:21:31.400 God is using it for his plans. 00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:36.360 And ultimately, of course, it's not like Stephen was lost, right? 00:21:36.780 --> 00:21:38.560 But as I say at the end, he fell asleep. 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.880 I mean, he was really dead. 00:21:41.860 --> 00:21:44.360 But for Christians, he was asleep. 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:48.120 Because later Jesus will wake him up from the grave and he'll be fine. 00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:49.120 He'll be with Jesus. 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:49.880 It's okay. 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:52.800 But that's the occasion. 00:21:54.260 --> 00:22:00.960 And by the way, did you notice that cameo of this guy called Saul, this young man who starts, who seems to be in charge of the persecution? 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:02.060 We're going to meet him again. 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:04.720 This is a beginning in many ways. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:07.339 But so the gospel is going out. 00:22:07.419 --> 00:22:09.980 But that still leaves some questions, right? 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:12.139 Yes, the gospel is going out from Jerusalem. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:14.139 But is that possible? 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:21.980 Because, you know, for 2,000 years, God's people were all Jewish, right? 00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:26.000 And for 1,500 years, it's been centered on the temple. 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:29.800 And for 1,000 years, it's been centered on Jerusalem. 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:33.899 And so this is a big, massive change, right? 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:37.139 For, you know, the gospel to go to all these other places. 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.659 And yet it's not a change. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:44.059 It's not something new if you think about it. 00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:48.259 And that is why the content of this speech. 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:52.279 Now, Luke, he doesn't just put his comments kind of in the writing. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.400 He tells a story. 00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:55.519 But he makes his point through speeches. 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:58.559 And this long speech is like Luke's manifesto. 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:00.279 Hey, this is what I want you to really know. 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:03.680 And that's why we have such a long speech. 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:08.019 And I think this is the foundation for the gospel going out. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.000 It's the foundation. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:11.379 Why can the gospel go everywhere? 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:13.079 Well, look at this speech. 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:17.559 And I think the key to that, what is the speech about? 00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:23.700 If you look back at 6, verse 13, these are like the charges that he's supposed to answer, right? 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:28.559 Verse 13, and they set up false witnesses who said, 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:33.659 This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:38.440 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:41.639 and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us. 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:45.179 It's about the temple and the law. 00:23:45.179 --> 00:23:47.440 The temple, of course, was the heart of Jewish religion. 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:49.819 This is where God lives, right? 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:52.980 This is where your prayers come to God. 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:56.579 This is where you have forgiveness through sacrifices, right? 00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:58.559 That's why the temple was so important. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.319 And the law. 00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:02.379 The law was their standing before God, right? 00:24:02.419 --> 00:24:05.720 It marked God's people off from everyone else. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:10.480 You know, the temple and the law, they're such important things for the Jews. 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:11.259 They're so important. 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:17.980 Well, Stephen will have a few things to say about it. 00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:22.740 Because as he gives his speech, he gives this nice long Bible overview. 00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:25.420 It's really, of course, that's what they have in common, right? 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.859 Hey, you guys believe the Old Testament. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.039 I believe in the Old Testament. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.440 Let's go through it. 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:31.960 And he points out two important things. 00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:35.200 First of all, God doesn't need a temple. 00:24:36.100 --> 00:24:37.420 God doesn't need a temple. 00:24:37.860 --> 00:24:40.519 A lot of this speech is, you know, God doesn't need a temple. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:42.100 I mean, that's how he starts. 00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:44.719 It's not that the temple is bad. 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:47.699 But look, 7 verse 2. 00:24:48.219 --> 00:24:49.480 Brothers and fathers, hear me. 00:24:49.959 --> 00:24:54.839 The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia. 00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:57.139 He was not in a temple. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.139 He was not in Jerusalem. 00:24:58.339 --> 00:25:00.000 He was far away in Mesopotamia. 00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:02.919 And God appeared to Abraham and spoke to him. 00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:05.319 No temple, right? 00:25:06.939 --> 00:25:09.240 Goes on to Joseph, verse 9. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:13.880 And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. 00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:19.779 But God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh. 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:20.720 Right? 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:23.180 Here's Joseph all the way in Egypt. 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:25.579 Again, no temple, far away. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:29.940 But God was with him and rescued him and gave him wisdom and favor. 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.120 Right? 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.740 God was with him. 00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:36.460 Moses, a few things about Moses, but then, yeah, the burning bush. 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:37.380 Right? 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:38.260 Verse 31. 00:25:39.060 --> 00:25:42.660 When Moses saw the burning bush, he was amazed at the sight. 00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:46.900 And as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord. 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:51.980 I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob. 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:55.060 And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:26:01.280 Then the Lord said to him, take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.340 Holy ground. 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.220 Right? 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:06.779 They say, oh, the temple, that's this holy place. 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:11.339 Well, here was a bush on a mountain in a desert in Arabia. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:15.259 And that was a holy place because God was there. 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.339 Right? 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:18.220 I hope you see the point. 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:18.480 Right? 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:20.059 None of this had a temple. 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:23.880 This was hundreds of years before the temple. 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:25.140 God doesn't need a temple. 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.760 He's greater. 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:28.580 And, of course, later they did get a temple. 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.820 They did get to the land. 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:33.380 But even then, the prophets kept reminding them God is bigger. 00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:34.000 Right? 00:26:34.060 --> 00:26:36.820 Verse 49 from Isaiah. 00:26:37.320 --> 00:26:39.980 Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. 00:26:40.360 --> 00:26:42.220 What kind of house will you build for me? 00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:43.300 Right? 00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:44.500 Here's an infinite God. 00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:47.980 He doesn't fit in a limited, finite building. 00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:48.480 Right? 00:26:48.520 --> 00:26:49.160 God is bigger. 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:52.560 And then, how about the law? 00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:53.240 Right? 00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:53.880 Oh, the law. 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.440 It's the law. 00:26:54.560 --> 00:26:55.340 It's so important. 00:26:56.480 --> 00:27:01.140 Well, Stephen also says, look, people never kept the law. 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:02.360 Right? 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:03.519 They say, oh, Moses. 00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.460 We follow Moses. 00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.420 We honor Moses. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:08.700 Well, Stephen goes through their history. 00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:11.200 Look at how you treated your leaders and Moses. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:16.240 I mean, already with Joseph, chosen by God, but they sold him into slavery. 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:18.299 But then, Moses, right? 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:20.480 Moses, he came to rescue you. 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.539 Verse 25. 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:22.680 Yeah? 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:28.180 He thought, supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand. 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.859 Verse 27. 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:36.740 But the man who was wronging his neighbor, trust him aside, saying, who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.759 You know, Moses got rejected. 00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:42.299 And later as well, in the wilderness, verse 39. 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:46.940 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside. 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:49.019 And in their hearts, they turned to Egypt. 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:51.359 And, you know, they started worshiping idols. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.059 They made a golden calf. 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:53.779 Right? 00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:56.059 The law said, love God with all your heart. 00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:57.319 And then they worshiped idols. 00:27:58.059 --> 00:28:02.220 You know, God's people never really honored Moses. 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.980 And Moses said, there are going to be prophets. 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:06.059 And they're going to be, Jesus will come. 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.419 And what did they do? 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.619 Verse 52. 00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:12.039 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:19.199 And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the righteous one, Jesus, whom you have now betrayed and murdered. 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.519 Right? 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:22.159 Not a very good history. 00:28:22.959 --> 00:28:27.059 So you who received the law as delivered by angels and didn't keep it. 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:30.119 And now maybe he could have spoken more gently. 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:31.319 Not very pastoral. 00:28:31.479 --> 00:28:32.659 But you see the point, right? 00:28:33.179 --> 00:28:34.359 They're charging him. 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.859 You are against Moses. 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:39.419 Well, God's people have never kept the law. 00:28:39.939 --> 00:28:42.740 They've never done exactly as Moses wanted. 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:42.979 Right? 00:28:43.719 --> 00:28:46.519 So the law, in a way, it's not that important. 00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:46.759 Right? 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.599 It's holy and good. 00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:49.059 But no one keeps it. 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.179 None of them did. 00:28:52.699 --> 00:28:57.459 But I hope if you put those two together, you can see why this is so important to Luke. 00:28:57.879 --> 00:28:58.159 Right? 00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:06.180 If God doesn't need the temple and people never kept the law, well, then the gospel is free to go to other places. 00:29:06.600 --> 00:29:07.040 Right? 00:29:07.100 --> 00:29:09.180 That's why the gospel can go out from Jerusalem. 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:11.200 And that's why this is here. 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:17.200 You know, so far, yes, it's been Jewish meeting in the temple, all circumcised men and law keeping women. 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:19.819 And, you know, but now it all changes. 00:29:20.340 --> 00:29:20.600 Right? 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:22.640 It goes to Samaria and to the Gentiles. 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:23.860 Is that possible? 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.180 Yeah. 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:26.080 God is greater than a temple. 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:27.140 Right? 00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:28.819 He doesn't need a temple. 00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:31.140 You can worship God in Samaria. 00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:33.900 You can worship God somewhere else. 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.480 Right? 00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:37.180 And, yeah, you don't need these things. 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:39.440 That's why this is Luke's manifesto. 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:41.059 Hey, the gospel is for the whole world. 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:41.400 Why? 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:44.120 Because God is greater than the temple. 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:46.000 He's greater than the law. 00:29:46.340 --> 00:29:46.480 Right? 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:49.779 That, you know, so he's greater than the Jews. 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.640 Isn't that so wonderful? 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:53.559 I mean, we don't think about it. 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:53.720 Right? 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:55.039 We become Christians. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.240 We take it for granted. 00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.700 Can you imagine that, you know, you have to go to Jerusalem to be a Christian? 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:01.900 Right? 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:05.380 I mean, how, you know, think about how big the world is. 00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:07.339 I mean, now we have airplanes. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.799 Back then, they didn't have airplanes. 00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.079 Right? 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:13.180 The gospel could never have spread much beyond Jerusalem itself. 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:17.700 Billions of people couldn't get there. 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:23.720 But now, yeah, we can just meet right here in Hong Kong and worship God. 00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:23.940 Right? 00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:26.220 We don't need to go to Jerusalem. 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:29.080 I mean, there's probably two billion Christians in the world. 00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:31.279 Can you imagine two billion people in the temple? 00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:32.160 It wouldn't even fit. 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:32.440 Right? 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.279 Isn't this wonderful? 00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:36.740 We don't need to go there. 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:38.180 We can meet here in Hong Kong. 00:30:38.820 --> 00:30:40.500 And not just even here on Sundays. 00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:40.779 Right? 00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:44.120 It's not that, okay, here on Sunday we meet God. 00:30:45.100 --> 00:30:47.299 God is, he's bigger than the temple. 00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:49.119 He's also a lot bigger than Viva Place. 00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:51.159 God is everywhere. 00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:53.039 You go to your workplace tomorrow. 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.599 Well, God is with you. 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:59.399 In a way, you should take off your sandals because it's holy ground. 00:30:59.879 --> 00:31:00.099 Right? 00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:01.180 Because God is with you. 00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:01.879 Right? 00:31:02.159 --> 00:31:03.779 You're there, but God is at work. 00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:08.859 He's there to help you, to heal you, to forgive you, to guide you, to strengthen you. 00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:12.359 God was with Abraham, with Joseph, with Moses. 00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:17.959 Jesus, he is with you in your workplace or in your uni or in your neighborhood. 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:18.959 Right? 00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:21.159 That's wonderful. 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:24.539 I'm not saying Sundays are not important. 00:31:24.919 --> 00:31:27.799 You know, we should come here as you can. 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:29.979 But, you know, but God is greater. 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.519 And for some people, that's wonderful. 00:31:31.679 --> 00:31:34.479 I know people, they can't come on Sunday because they're working. 00:31:34.879 --> 00:31:35.859 It's really hard. 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:40.079 You know, if you have to come here on Sunday, otherwise you couldn't be a Christian. 00:31:40.219 --> 00:31:41.139 That would be really hard for them. 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:43.640 But, no, you know, God is everywhere. 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.180 You can pray. 00:31:44.280 --> 00:31:45.000 You can read the Bible. 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:45.880 You can go to CG. 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:49.800 You know, outside Sundays, outside Viva Place. 00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:51.259 Isn't that wonderful? 00:31:52.580 --> 00:31:55.080 You don't need a law either for the men among us. 00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:55.920 No circumcision. 00:31:56.320 --> 00:31:57.520 Very nice. 00:31:59.780 --> 00:32:00.920 But generally, right? 00:32:01.040 --> 00:32:02.920 I don't know if you've ever read Leviticus. 00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:07.100 I don't think it was that great to be a Jewish believer, right? 00:32:07.100 --> 00:32:08.880 And have to do all that. 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.100 You no longer need that. 00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:12.639 Just turn from your sin and trust in Jesus. 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:17.419 Like we said two weeks ago, turning is sufficient, right? 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:19.539 In Jonah, turning is enough. 00:32:19.679 --> 00:32:22.000 Just repent and trust in Jesus, and that's it. 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.859 That's all you need to do. 00:32:23.419 --> 00:32:24.099 That's so wonderful. 00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:29.279 Of course, I say trust in Jesus because we still need Jesus. 00:32:30.419 --> 00:32:36.959 It's easy to – some people, they read this and they think, okay, oh, we don't need a temple at all anymore, right? 00:32:36.959 --> 00:32:40.679 We don't need forgiveness, and we don't need to be right with God. 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:42.699 Of course, that's not true. 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:46.000 It's just – Stephen doesn't mention it, but there's a new temple. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:48.119 Jesus is that new temple. 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:58.599 And, you know, sometimes in the gospel, Jesus – like John 2, famous example, he says, destroy this temple, and in three days I'll raise it up. 00:32:58.799 --> 00:33:01.539 And John says, well, he was speaking about the temple of his body. 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.519 And Jesus is the temple. 00:33:03.640 --> 00:33:07.420 It's not like we can just pray to God by ourselves. 00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.480 I mean, why would God listen to me? 00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:11.759 You know, we just confessed our sin. 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:13.640 We're terrible people. 00:33:14.120 --> 00:33:15.120 God wouldn't listen to us. 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:18.779 It's through Jesus, right, in Jesus' name that he listens to us. 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:21.019 Again, we need forgiveness. 00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:24.000 Just because we don't have a physical temple, we still need forgiveness. 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.720 But it's in Jesus. 00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:30.039 And, again, we need a right standing before God. 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:37.279 But just because the law is gone doesn't mean that we don't still need righteousness, right? 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:48.599 So Paul says in Philippians, he says, being a Christian, well, it's not be found in Christ, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ. 00:33:49.420 --> 00:33:51.359 The righteousness from God that depends on faith. 00:33:52.379 --> 00:33:55.879 Don't take this to mean, okay, hey, we don't need anything anymore. 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.639 We need Jesus. 00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:59.339 But the thing is, Jesus is at the right hand of God. 00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.980 You know, Jesus is everywhere. 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:05.440 And so, therefore, we can come to God at all times. 00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:06.859 We can go everywhere, right? 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:08.300 It's wonderful. 00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:10.659 Christianity, yeah, I don't know. 00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:13.119 Some people think Christianity is such a boring religion. 00:34:13.259 --> 00:34:18.000 There's no temples, no special days, no special places, no special rituals. 00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:21.199 No, that's just a wonderful thing, right? 00:34:21.239 --> 00:34:24.000 Because everything is special in a way, right? 00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:26.380 We can just, you can relate. 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:33.860 We don't need those things because, you know, we can come through Jesus to God at any time, in any place, everywhere. 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:36.300 Isn't that the most wonderful thing? 00:34:36.620 --> 00:34:39.700 Isn't that the most wonderful religion in a way? 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:44.059 And if you don't know Jesus yet, you know, look into it. 00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:49.939 It's an incredible thing to, yeah, to have God with you 24-7, right? 00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:52.840 Even for reaching out. 00:34:53.220 --> 00:34:56.559 Because I talk about, you know, our work and God helping us. 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:59.220 Of course, ultimately, God talks about reaching out. 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:02.380 You know, this section is about the gospel going out. 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.860 Even with the gospel. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.780 God wants the gospel to go out, right? 00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:08.639 To your workplace, to your university, to your family. 00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:12.139 Isn't it wonderful that God is with you for that? 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:14.699 Imagine if someone needs to become a Christian. 00:35:14.799 --> 00:35:16.000 They need to come here on Sunday. 00:35:16.359 --> 00:35:18.199 But my colleague can't make it on Sunday. 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:21.639 Well, not a problem, right? 00:35:22.139 --> 00:35:23.539 The God of glory is everywhere. 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:25.839 He is in your office. 00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:26.779 He is at work. 00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:27.839 He is there. 00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:29.759 He can save. 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:31.739 You just need to tell people of him. 00:35:32.219 --> 00:35:34.500 You just need to pray, right? 00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:36.500 Isn't this a wonderful thing? 00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:39.119 No, I hope you see it. 00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:40.460 It's this passage. 00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:42.360 It's wonderful news if you think about it. 00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:43.780 We just take it for granted, right? 00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:45.019 We've been Christians for so long. 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:49.900 Actually, what God has done through Jesus is such a wonderful thing. 00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:53.760 Why don't I pray and give thanks? 00:35:53.900 --> 00:36:00.219 Why don't we bow our heads and just pray that this would be a real truth for us as the music team comes up? 00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:12.699 Father, this was 2,000 years ago. 00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:15.280 And these days we don't think about it anymore. 00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:18.679 But it's such a wonderful thing that we don't need a temple. 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.860 We don't need a law. 00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:20.800 We just need Jesus. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:27.780 And each person here can just know you and relate to you if we come to Jesus. 00:36:28.180 --> 00:36:30.820 It makes such a difference. 00:36:31.120 --> 00:36:34.539 Every day of our lives, everywhere we are, you are with us. 00:36:34.760 --> 00:36:35.620 We are your people. 00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:38.920 Make it more real to us. 00:36:39.860 --> 00:36:42.680 Make it exciting for us. 00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:43.800 Give us joy in that. 00:36:43.800 --> 00:36:50.420 Give us peace, security, everything we know from just you being with us. 00:36:51.140 --> 00:36:52.800 And would it be something that we want to share? 00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:54.700 Lord, this is about the gospel going out. 00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:57.519 Would we share this wonderful news with many people? 00:36:57.760 --> 00:37:00.100 And knowing that you are with us as we do that, 00:37:00.300 --> 00:37:03.720 that you are in our friends' and colleagues' lives 00:37:03.720 --> 00:37:06.480 because you want to save them. 00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:07.940 In Jesus' name. 00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:08.600 Amen.