WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.440 We're in the second in our four-part series called The Serving Seven, 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:14.519 looking at the early life of the church from Acts chapter 6 to Acts chapter 8. 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:21.640 I wonder if anybody here bears an uncanny resemblance to somebody else in their family. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:27.339 Now, if Reuben and Joshua were still here, they'd pay an uncanny resemblance to each other. 00:00:27.339 --> 00:00:34.380 Perhaps you look remarkably like a brother, or your dad, or your great-uncle Gilbert, or great-auntie Agatha. 00:00:34.380 --> 00:00:39.140 Put your hand up if people have ever said to you, you look like somebody else in your family. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:46.719 Keep your hand up if you thought that was a good comment and you really enjoyed it. 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:51.400 It's a funny thing, isn't it? Family resemblance. 00:00:51.760 --> 00:00:54.600 So I thought we'd have a little quiz this morning. I'm going to show you a famous child. 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:57.340 Well, a child of a famous person. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:00.960 And if you know who it is, put your hand up and we'll see. 00:01:01.100 --> 00:01:01.859 There's no prizes. 00:01:03.300 --> 00:01:04.859 But you're good anyway. 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:07.939 Okay, so who's that person's dad? 00:01:09.719 --> 00:01:10.560 Andrew Yardley. 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:13.240 Tom Hanks. Look at that. 00:01:15.219 --> 00:01:16.140 Remarkably similar. 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:18.700 These three boys, who's their dad? 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:23.040 We're at school, so we need to put hands up. 00:01:24.599 --> 00:01:26.119 Charlie. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:28.280 David Beckham. 00:01:28.339 --> 00:01:30.339 Charlie is so up with pop culture. 00:01:30.759 --> 00:01:31.759 It's unbelievable. 00:01:32.919 --> 00:01:34.679 Who's this person's dad? 00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:36.459 Thane. 00:01:37.259 --> 00:01:38.039 Will Smith. 00:01:38.179 --> 00:01:39.919 Jaden and Will Smith. 00:01:40.599 --> 00:01:43.159 Who is this person's dad? 00:01:48.419 --> 00:01:49.419 Cristiano Ronaldo. 00:01:49.419 --> 00:01:51.519 I mean, the similarity is unbelievable. 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:53.579 Two more. 00:01:53.679 --> 00:01:55.599 Who's this person's dad? 00:01:59.340 --> 00:01:59.739 Anybody. 00:02:00.819 --> 00:02:02.539 Brunsfield, I thought we were cooler than this. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:04.459 Brad Pitt. 00:02:04.539 --> 00:02:05.319 Well done, Simone. 00:02:05.420 --> 00:02:06.939 You saved everyone's blushes. 00:02:07.420 --> 00:02:09.419 This is the freakiest one I found this week. 00:02:11.019 --> 00:02:12.460 Who's her mum? 00:02:12.460 --> 00:02:19.939 So it's the actress, Julie Ann Moore. 00:02:20.520 --> 00:02:21.819 I mean, that's scary, isn't it? 00:02:22.760 --> 00:02:28.420 If somebody, if your mum looked like that, I'd probably go for a different hair colour, a few other things. 00:02:28.419 --> 00:02:37.259 As we dive into our passage this morning, we're going to start to see that there's two great family resemblances going on. 00:02:37.899 --> 00:02:44.419 That the two groups of people in question look remarkably like people that have gone before. 00:02:45.859 --> 00:02:48.000 We're looking at this guy, Stephen. 00:02:48.859 --> 00:02:54.959 He has an incredibly short but incredibly inspiring account of his life. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:59.379 The name Stephen means Victor's crown. 00:02:59.540 --> 00:03:07.560 And you have to say, when we look and read about him in just this chapter and a half, we have to say that's a very fitting name. 00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:13.080 We were introduced to him just last week in chapter 6, verse 5. 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:16.100 When they had to choose seven people to serve. 00:03:16.099 --> 00:03:18.979 It says, this proposal pleased the whole group. 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:24.859 They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:28.560 And now in chapter 6, verse 8, Stephen takes centre stage. 00:03:29.359 --> 00:03:31.740 Chapter 6, verse 8 to chapter 6, verse 15. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:34.459 And all of chapter 7 are all about Stephen. 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:38.099 And we're going to see that he's very worthy of study. 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:41.240 He is the ministry equivalent of a firework. 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:43.480 He appears quickly. 00:03:43.600 --> 00:03:44.260 He goes up. 00:03:44.340 --> 00:03:48.719 He makes a big bang that has enormous consequences for the early church. 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:53.120 And then quickly, by the end of the chapter, he'll be dead. 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:58.540 What we see is that Stephen bears an uncanny resemblance to Jesus. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:05.939 And we'll see that the Sanhedrin bear an uncanny resemblance to Old Testament Israel. 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:08.680 So let's read together. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:12.659 Chapter 6, verse 8, 1 to 15. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:15.219 8 to 15. 00:04:15.300 --> 00:04:20.800 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:25.699 Opposition arose, however, from members of the synagogue of the freedmen, 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:31.980 as it was called Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria, as well as the province of Cilicia and Asia, 00:04:32.259 --> 00:04:34.199 who began to argue with Stephen. 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:38.819 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:42.860 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:47.980 We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God. 00:04:48.699 --> 00:04:51.680 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. 00:04:51.980 --> 00:04:55.079 They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:57.560 They produced false witnesses who testified, 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:03.579 This fellow never stopped speaking against this holy place and against the law. 00:05:03.579 --> 00:05:05.060 For we have heard him say, 00:05:05.300 --> 00:05:11.079 This Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:14.819 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:19.680 and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. 00:05:20.419 --> 00:05:25.360 I think the first thing we see is that Stephen is living as Christ himself lived. 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:28.360 What is Stephen spending his time doing? 00:05:28.460 --> 00:05:33.580 Well, he's spending his time teaching and doing greater miraculous signs. 00:05:34.080 --> 00:05:37.180 He is speaking the truth about Jesus, 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:43.300 and God is working through him to do wonderful things to authenticate that message. 00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:49.360 That what Jesus spent his life doing, he now continues to do through Stephen. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:53.960 Stephen strong in word and in deed. 00:05:55.960 --> 00:06:01.480 And chapter 6 verse 7 seems to be the catalyst for this opposition. 00:06:01.699 --> 00:06:07.680 In chapter 6 verse 7, we read that a great number of priests were leaving the synagogue and turning to follow Jesus. 00:06:08.580 --> 00:06:11.840 This is greatly worrying if you're invested in Judaism. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:18.339 They've already seen 7,000 defectors turn from Old Testament Judaism to serve the Lord Jesus, 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:19.679 who they know is the Messiah. 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:23.399 And now some of the people that are really into it, the leaders, 00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:26.899 are making that same journey as they cross the floor. 00:06:27.339 --> 00:06:28.759 Something needs to be done. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:37.859 They're going to lose even more if they can't stop this Jesus movement in its tracks. 00:06:37.860 --> 00:06:43.819 And it's interesting because when they have this debate amongst themselves in the Sanhedrin, 00:06:43.980 --> 00:06:47.040 a Jewish teacher called Gamaliel stands up and says, 00:06:47.460 --> 00:06:51.020 if this is of men, it will die, but if it's of God, you won't be able to stop it 00:06:51.020 --> 00:06:53.280 because you'll be fighting against God himself. 00:06:54.020 --> 00:06:58.280 Well, it seems that they're now going to weigh in and fight against God himself. 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:01.720 And they're not going to fight by the Queensbury rules. 00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:03.360 They're going to fight dirty. 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:07.460 And so it starts in the synagogue of the freedmen. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:13.000 These Jews captured by Pompey in 63 AD, deported to Rome. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:17.900 They become this own separatist group of people who are Jews who speak Latin, 00:07:18.020 --> 00:07:19.080 which is quite unusual. 00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:22.259 And then in the years that follow, they're freed. 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:26.560 And a lot of their descendants move back to Jerusalem and they start their own synagogue. 00:07:27.460 --> 00:07:31.720 And this is where the real uprising comes against Stephen. 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:36.420 And see that they get the Jews from other synagogues, 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:43.560 from the Cyrene synagogue and the Alexandria synagogue and the Cilician synagogue and the Asian synagogue. 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:48.920 In fact, in the Talmud, it tells us that there's 230 different synagogues in Jerusalem. 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:54.060 The Jerusalem is not, the Judaism of Jerusalem is not homogenous. 00:07:54.320 --> 00:07:55.840 They're so fragmented. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:08:02.079 And isn't that so contrasting to what we see in chapter 6, verses 1 to 7? 00:08:02.919 --> 00:08:07.259 That there all Jews are brought together as one under the Lord Jesus. 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:12.439 Because religion breeds competition and there's winners and losers and division, 00:08:12.620 --> 00:08:17.899 but grace humbles everyone and means that there can be real unity. 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:23.759 And so the opposition to the gospel grows. 00:08:27.359 --> 00:08:28.719 Coalition come together. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:34.740 And they think, right, let's destroy this person, this person Stephen, in an argument. 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:37.559 And so they began to debate. 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:39.679 But in chapter 10, it says they couldn't. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:40.419 They couldn't win. 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:42.899 His logic was foolproof. 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:45.899 His understanding of the scriptures was profound. 00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:53.559 And every time they stood up against him, they were the ones who left with their tail between their legs. 00:08:54.459 --> 00:08:58.019 And so what do most people do when they lose in an argument consistently? 00:08:58.679 --> 00:08:59.899 Well, you start to fight dirty. 00:09:01.139 --> 00:09:03.840 You start to fight under the table. 00:09:03.939 --> 00:09:04.899 It's the Moscow rules. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:07.860 Verse 11, they spread rumors. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:11.059 Verse 12a, they raised a rabble. 00:09:11.059 --> 00:09:15.500 Verse 12b, they violently seized him. 00:09:15.959 --> 00:09:18.419 This word seized is literally the word dragged, 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:22.079 which is very different to Acts chapter 4, verse 3, 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:25.519 where Peter and John are summoned before the Sanhedrin. 00:09:25.579 --> 00:09:26.799 This is all ramped up. 00:09:27.479 --> 00:09:29.099 This is a lot more aggressive. 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:33.039 In 12b, they have a kangaroo court. 00:09:34.779 --> 00:09:40.239 What about being tried before a Sanhedrin who have a vested interest in you being declared guilty? 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:46.120 Verse 13, they produce false witnesses who make false accusations. 00:09:47.419 --> 00:09:49.879 You have to say that looks remarkably like Jesus. 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:53.240 Jesus is strong in word and deed. 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:59.379 Everyone tries to trap him and they're the ones who end up being trapped in their thinking. 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:02.539 And so what happens to Jesus? 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:03.820 Well, they make false witnesses. 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:07.379 They drag him before the Sanhedrin. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:12.320 They bring false accusations that will never stick. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:17.879 Stephen's life and Jesus' life bear an uncanny family resemblance. 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:19.820 His words confound. 00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:20.939 His miracles astound. 00:10:21.019 --> 00:10:22.200 His enemies are incensed. 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:23.860 The Jews are sneaky. 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:25.059 The witnesses are false. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:26.399 The accusations are untrue. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:28.000 And the jury is loaded. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:37.879 And putting together the accusations in this first bit, it seems that Stephen stands accused of four things. 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:39.500 And here they are. 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:42.699 This is so important because this gives us a way to understand the sermon. 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:45.360 The first one is this. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.659 He's blasphemed God. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:48.740 Look at 11b. 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:54.340 We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against God. 00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:57.259 Then look at the second accusation. 00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:58.700 He's blasphemed Moses. 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:02.940 We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses. 00:11:03.340 --> 00:11:10.500 The fact that they put Moses before God, I think, tells us something very illustrative of first century Judaism in Palestine. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:13.960 The third accusation. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:15.539 He's spoken against the law. 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:19.899 This fellow never stops speaking against the law. 00:11:20.059 --> 00:11:23.159 End of verse 13 and 14. 00:11:23.699 --> 00:11:25.759 And he's spoken against the temple. 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:30.259 We've heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place. 00:11:31.699 --> 00:11:36.360 These are, in essence, the four great pillars of first century Judaism. 00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:40.939 God, Moses, the law, and the temple. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:43.319 These are big deals on which the whole thing's founded. 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:46.800 And they're saying, Stephen, you've railroaded the lot of them. 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:50.040 You've trampled over every single one. 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:55.760 You are a clear and present danger to Judaism. 00:11:56.900 --> 00:12:05.740 So standing before this 71 strong Sanhedrin, Stephen has on his rap sheet the defamation of the four great things that these Jews hold dear. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:08.300 God, Moses, law, temple. 00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:12.399 This trial makes Nixon's water gate look like child's play. 00:12:13.579 --> 00:12:15.240 These charges are heinous. 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:19.059 And so he launches into a great defense. 00:12:19.719 --> 00:12:24.339 We saw that he's spoken as Christ speaks in chapter 7. 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:25.719 Sorry, the reference is wrong there. 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:29.899 And so he speaks as Christ would speak. 00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:34.519 Then the high priest asks Stephen, are these charges true? 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:38.040 The high priest is inviting Stephen to give in a defense. 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:40.379 And what a defense he gives. 00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:45.379 Because he starts by telling them the truth about God. 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:47.559 7 verse 2 to 16. 00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:48.679 Let me read this. 00:12:49.439 --> 00:12:51.980 To this he replied, brothers and fathers, listen to me. 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:54.200 He's showing reverence to them. 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:56.159 He's saying we're brothers. 00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:57.980 We both get Judaism the same way. 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:01.879 And fathers, because these are the ruling court. 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:06.879 The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia. 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:09.279 Before he lived in Haran. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.879 Leave your country and your people, God said. 00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:14.059 And go to the land I will show you. 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:17.279 So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:22.240 After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:27.980 He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:33.080 But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, 00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:35.680 even though at that time Abraham had no child. 00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:37.639 God spoke to him in this way. 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:41.320 For 400 years your descendants will be strangers in a country, not their own. 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:43.440 And they will be enslaved and ill-treated. 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:46.279 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves. 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:51.659 God said, and afterwards they will come out of the country and worship me in this place. 00:13:52.180 --> 00:13:54.620 Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:59.360 And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:04.379 Later Isaac became the father of Jacob and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:08.639 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:12.080 But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:16.679 He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 00:14:17.060 --> 00:14:20.519 So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his places. 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:27.159 Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:33.399 When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our forefathers on their first visit. 00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:36.919 On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was. 00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:39.259 And Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family. 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:44.539 After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, 75 in all. 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:48.759 Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. 00:14:49.219 --> 00:14:58.959 Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money. 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:04.559 What Stephen has in essence done there is he's done a Jewish debate. 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:06.000 He starts chronologically. 00:15:06.199 --> 00:15:07.860 He starts with Abraham. 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:08.060 Abraham. 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:14.060 And what he lays out is a totally orthodox understanding of Jewish history. 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:21.159 How, by the sovereign call of God, Abraham left his home and went to the place that God had promised. 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:24.919 He stops in Haran, waiting for terror to die. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:29.720 When terror has died, God moves him on again, and he enters the promised land. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:34.899 He then takes us to Joseph and the fact that Joseph's brothers were ratbags. 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:39.600 And they threw him in a well, and they sold him to the Ishmaelites, and he ended up in Egypt. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:41.299 And yet God was faithful. 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:46.299 And he rose up in Potiphar's house, and then he was thrown in prison. 00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:49.980 And then from prison, he rose to Pharaoh's court in the end. 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:59.079 And God had foreplanned this so that he might be there to save his family when the famine struck. 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:03.879 Stephen is saying this is Rabbi 101 stuff. 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.919 We think the same about this. 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:10.860 You saying I blaspheme God, let me tell you, my understanding is the same as yours. 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:16.500 I'm utterly orthodox on this place and stuff. 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:19.460 But notice this isn't just a defense. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:24.820 That into the mix he throws the fact that these patriarchs, 00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:29.000 these people that many of the Sanhedrin had descended from, 00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:31.160 they were ratbags. 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:32.200 They missed it. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.560 They missed who Joseph was. 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:36.900 They were the ones who threw him in a well. 00:16:37.040 --> 00:16:39.220 They were the ones who got him deported to Egypt. 00:16:40.420 --> 00:16:42.320 He shows them that they're flawed. 00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:49.780 He shows them that their rose-tinted review of history is not right. 00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:55.959 And so he just opens up the line of conflict. 00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:58.919 He says Abraham failed to trust the promise of God. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.679 He needed to be moved on from Harrah. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.279 He says Joseph's brothers were jealous. 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:06.500 He says God was faithful throughout. 00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:11.619 This is the warning shot across the Sanhedrin bow that as we move on in, 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:14.180 Stephen's defense will see growing bigger and bigger, 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:16.759 which will eventually get Stephen killed. 00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:23.500 He's giving them some hard home truths that they look remarkably like their ancestors. 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.559 But Stephen's just getting started. 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:31.039 Because he's going to go on and tell them the truth about Moses. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:33.680 Verse 17. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:37.180 As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promises to Abraham, 00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:40.319 the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. 00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:44.500 Then a new king to whom Joseph meant nothing came to power in Egypt. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:48.059 He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors 00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:52.200 by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die. 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:56.599 At that time Moses was born and he was no ordinary child. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:59.619 For three months he was cared for by his family. 00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:05.079 When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own. 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:11.000 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. 00:18:11.679 --> 00:18:15.679 When Moses was 40 years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. 00:18:16.139 --> 00:18:18.959 He saw one of them being ill-treated by an Egyptian. 00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:22.599 So he went to the defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. 00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:27.599 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.939 but they did not. 00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:33.339 The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:35.599 He tried to reconcile them by saying, 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.579 Men, you are brothers. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:38.819 Why do you want to hurt each other? 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:42.979 But the man who was ill-treating the other pushed Moses aside and said, 00:18:43.239 --> 00:18:45.559 Who made you ruler and judge over us? 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:48.579 Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday? 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:51.239 When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:54.339 where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons. 00:18:54.339 --> 00:19:00.939 After 40 years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:03.679 When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. 00:19:03.939 --> 00:19:08.159 As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say, 00:19:08.419 --> 00:19:11.519 I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 00:19:11.939 --> 00:19:14.659 Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. 00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:20.140 Then the Lord said to him, Take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:23.140 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:26.460 I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. 00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:29.840 Now come, I will send you back to Egypt. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:33.899 This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:35.899 Who made you ruler and judge? 00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:40.539 He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself. 00:19:41.399 --> 00:19:43.699 Through the angel who appeared to him in the bush, 00:19:43.899 --> 00:19:47.959 he led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt to the Red Sea 00:19:47.959 --> 00:19:50.839 and for 40 years in the wilderness. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:56.919 He now jumps forward in the chronology in the remembering Israel's history 00:19:56.920 --> 00:20:01.120 and he sets upon Moses whom he was accused of blaspheming. 00:20:02.600 --> 00:20:07.539 And again he points out that his understanding is perfectly orthodox. 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:11.480 He's not speaking against Moses in any shape or form. 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:15.140 He is just applying it to them. 00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:21.140 But he also points out that when Moses tried to deliver the people, 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.740 they totally missed it. 00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:26.560 When prematurely he takes matters into his own hands 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:28.039 and kills the Egyptian, 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:31.179 it was not God's people who rallied around him. 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:33.980 In fact, they rejected him as a leader and he fled to Midian. 00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:39.619 They accused Stephen of blaspheming Moses 00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.819 and Stephen says, 00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:43.200 No, my understanding is as yours is. 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:46.919 But then starts to sow the seeds of doubt. 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:49.759 Moses came as a deliverer and your ancestors rejected him. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:54.920 Is that not kind of like what you're doing to Jesus right now? 00:20:55.480 --> 00:21:00.819 Who's come to deliver you and yet you have rejected him. 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:05.279 He starts to point out as well that Moses was flawed. 00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.960 He jumped the gun. 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.660 He was a murderer. 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:16.759 And so blaspheming Moses is nothing at all because Moses is just a mere man chosen graciously by God 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:19.140 to be involved in his plan. 00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:26.840 And then Stephen starts to address the law in verses 37 to 43. 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:30.240 This is the Moses who told the Israelites, 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:33.639 God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people. 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:38.099 He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai 00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:43.019 and with our ancestors and he received living words to pass on to us. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:46.019 But our ancestors refused to obey him. 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:49.679 Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.659 They told Aaron, 00:21:51.659 --> 00:21:54.619 Make us gods who will go before us. 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:57.199 As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt, 00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.979 we don't know what has happened to him. 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:02.719 That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. 00:22:02.979 --> 00:22:07.019 They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:09.579 But God turned away from them 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:14.079 and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. 00:22:14.719 --> 00:22:17.179 This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets. 00:22:17.179 --> 00:22:22.959 Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings for 40 years in the wilderness, people of Israel? 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:28.259 You take up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of God, Rephan, 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:30.380 the idols you made to worship. 00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:33.380 Therefore, I will send you into exile beyond Babylon. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:36.640 And yet again, Stephen says, 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.680 My understanding of the law is orthodox. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:41.940 It was delivered by God to Moses. 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:45.400 See that he calls them living words. 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:51.380 This law was living words to tell Israel what their God was like. 00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:55.220 But see how Stephen flips it again. 00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:57.180 Because he says, 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.300 Right at the outset, 00:22:59.340 --> 00:23:01.420 Right at the outset, Sanhedrin, 00:23:01.540 --> 00:23:03.740 your ancestors, Old Testament Israel, 00:23:03.860 --> 00:23:05.200 they didn't want to hear it. 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:08.960 In fact, they thought they'd quite like to make a golden calf 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:10.580 and bow down and worship that instead. 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:14.099 It's not me, says Stephen, 00:23:14.199 --> 00:23:17.759 who's blaspheming God or Moses or the law. 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:21.059 It's you who are just like your ancestors. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:24.119 You're failing to put it together. 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:26.559 And the only reason you're still God's people 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.819 is because God is gracious. 00:23:29.379 --> 00:23:30.740 Because left to you or me, 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:32.259 we would have given up ages ago. 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:36.779 And then I love this quote from Amos. 00:23:36.859 --> 00:23:39.539 We're all now experts in Amos. 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:44.000 Because he takes them on from Sinai to the wilderness wanderings. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:44.720 And he said, 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.579 God was so gracious, 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:48.220 he gave you a tabernacle to worship him in the desert. 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:51.400 And so when you got up in the morning 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.859 and undid the flaps of your tent, 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:55.700 you went off to the tabernacle to worship. 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.879 But in your tent at night, 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:58.019 when the flaps were down, 00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:01.119 you brought out all the Egyptian gods from under your pillow. 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.480 You're so duplicitous. 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:07.740 You're not worshipping God at all, you Sanhedrin. 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:10.180 You're just worshipping things that you have made. 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:14.859 You're photoshopping your history. 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:18.500 And it's putting you in great peril 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:21.200 because you missed who Jesus was. 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:23.240 They're getting hot under the collar, 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:27.299 but here's the howitzer that comes in in verse 44. 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:32.240 Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law. 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.839 With them in the wilderness. 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:38.279 It had been made as God directed Moses, 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:40.200 according to the pattern he had seen. 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:42.160 After receiving the tabernacle, 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:44.599 our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:48.859 when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. 00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:52.240 It remained in the land until the time of David, 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:55.099 who enjoyed God's favour and asked 00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:58.680 that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:02.640 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:07.000 However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands, 00:25:07.060 --> 00:25:08.120 as the prophet says. 00:25:08.580 --> 00:25:10.980 Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. 00:25:11.340 --> 00:25:14.000 What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord? 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:17.320 Or where will my resting place be? 00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:20.960 Has not my hand made all things? 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:26.740 The last accusation that they level at Stephen is that he's spoken against the temple. 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:30.860 And what he does here is absolute genius. 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:35.720 Stephen gives them a lesson in the evolution of the temple 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:40.559 from a tent in the wilderness to the splendour of Solomon's temple. 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:47.879 He says the tabernacle was built according to the specifications of God. 00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:52.679 They had the tabernacle for all their 40 years of wilderness wanderings. 00:25:52.899 --> 00:25:54.940 They crossed the Jordan with it. 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:59.740 It was in Israel as they conquered the land. 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:01.899 And it was only at David's time 00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:05.079 that David said, I'd like to make a house for you, God. 00:26:06.659 --> 00:26:09.919 But God said, David, you've got too much blood on your hands. 00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:11.800 Let's leave it for Solomon. 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:13.700 Now Solomon's a little bit of an embarrassment. 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:17.539 He was greatly wise, but he was a great womanizer as well. 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:22.539 And it was through those seeds of rebellion that the kingdom is split. 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:29.140 The problem is, of course, is that that temple, Solomon's temple, was destroyed. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:32.240 And this is Zerubbabel's temple 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:36.960 that was built after the exile in the book of Ezra. 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:40.700 But the other problem is, is that the actual temple they're actually in now 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:42.900 was not just Zerubbabel's temple. 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:46.860 It was extended and expanded by Herod the Great. 00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:49.860 Herod the Great of Christmas. 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.880 He built loads of extensions. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:54.960 In fact, the Sanhedrin room they're now in 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:57.120 wasn't even part of the original temple. 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.420 This is a bit of an embarrassment. 00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:01.620 They're saying you spoke against the temple 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:03.320 and Stephen is saying, well, which temple? 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.680 Because you've had a lot. 00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:09.640 And God seems a lot less united to them than you are. 00:27:10.520 --> 00:27:12.740 You've actually started worshipping a premises 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:15.120 rather than the God who built all things. 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:18.119 And he says you're so small-minded 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:21.779 as if God could live in a house. 00:27:24.219 --> 00:27:25.959 God made absolutely everything. 00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:29.919 Why do you think it's totally bound up with a premises? 00:27:30.659 --> 00:27:33.339 And so Stephen is telling them 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:35.259 that your view of God is too small. 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:36.659 You've domesticated him. 00:27:36.719 --> 00:27:37.879 You've put him in a box. 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:41.679 And it's now just obeying laws and rules. 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:42.519 It's very awkward. 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:46.139 Stephen stands condemned about four things. 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:48.160 You've spoken against God. 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.240 You've spoken against Moses. 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:50.960 You've spoken against the law. 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.259 You've spoken against the temple. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.639 And Stephen says, I haven't. 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.619 The problem is not with me. 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.720 The problem is with you. 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:01.220 Now I think if he stops there, 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:04.119 they all shake hands and said, well played. 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:06.960 You really are as good at debating as we thought. 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.579 But he finishes 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:12.019 because now the accused becomes the accuser 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:13.559 and he tells them the truth about them. 00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:16.859 How about this for the conclusion of a sermon? 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.599 You sniff-neck people. 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:23.779 Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. 00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:25.119 You are just like your ancestors. 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:26.879 You always resist the Holy Spirit. 00:28:27.879 --> 00:28:29.639 Was there ever a point a prophet 00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:32.139 your ancestors did not persecute? 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:34.359 They even killed those who predicted 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:35.839 the coming of the righteous one. 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:38.579 And now you have betrayed and murdered him. 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:42.039 You have received the law that was given through angels, 00:28:42.179 --> 00:28:43.480 but you have not obeyed it. 00:28:44.939 --> 00:28:46.559 You stiff-necked people. 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:49.039 The idea of being an oxen, 00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:51.339 that it doesn't matter how hard you pull on the rein, 00:28:51.419 --> 00:28:54.099 it will not divert from the trajectory that it's on. 00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:56.939 We still have that phrase today, don't we? 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:58.920 We sometimes call people a stubborn old mule 00:28:58.920 --> 00:29:00.740 because they can't be turned 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:02.080 once they've made up their decision. 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:05.320 That's what Stephen is saying about these people, 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.660 your stubborn old mules. 00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:10.120 That you're so wedded to Judaism, 00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:11.900 you've totally missed the point. 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:14.100 You're just like your ancestors. 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:16.440 You persecuted the prophets. 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:20.680 You killed everyone who predicted Jesus was coming. 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:23.200 And even when Jesus turned up, 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.880 you killed him. 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:25.519 You murdered your own Messiah 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:29.700 because you're so stiff-necked and calloused. 00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:34.100 What a way to finish. 00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:35.860 You're wayward like the patriarchs. 00:29:36.580 --> 00:29:39.580 You're disobedient idolaters like the exodus generation. 00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:43.519 You're duplicitous like the campers at Sinai. 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:45.700 You're small-minded about God. 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:48.660 You bear the family resemblance of Old Testament Israel. 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:50.539 You persecuted the prophets. 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:52.160 And you missed and murdered the Messiah. 00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:55.360 It's not actually me who's on trial, says Stephen. 00:29:55.360 --> 00:29:55.920 It's you. 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.740 And you're all guilty. 00:29:59.320 --> 00:30:01.019 You're uncircumcised. 00:30:01.100 --> 00:30:02.440 You may as well be Gentiles 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:04.759 because you're ignorant of all these things. 00:30:05.820 --> 00:30:08.779 You've arrogantly chosen other things and self over Jesus. 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.380 What a sermon. 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:14.200 He stands accused of four things 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:15.680 and he flips the table and says, 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.440 no, it's you. 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:20.660 You're all guilty before God. 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:26.660 Well, you start telling religious people 00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.940 that their religion's not working. 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.720 They don't like it. 00:30:31.340 --> 00:30:33.519 And so verse 54, and then we're finished. 00:30:33.620 --> 00:30:35.680 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:38.580 they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:41.200 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:43.259 looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:45.799 and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.700 Look, he said, 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:49.119 I see heaven open and the Son of Man 00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:50.519 standing at the right hand of God. 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:52.519 At this, they covered their ears 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:54.059 and yelling at the top of their voices, 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:55.159 they all rushed at him, 00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.659 dragged him out of the city 00:30:57.659 --> 00:30:58.879 and began to stone him. 00:30:59.419 --> 00:31:01.379 Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats 00:31:01.379 --> 00:31:03.740 at the feet of a young man named Saul. 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:06.159 While they were stoning him, 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:06.859 Stephen prayed, 00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:08.559 Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 00:31:09.219 --> 00:31:11.159 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:13.199 Lord, do not hold this sin against them. 00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.500 When he had said this, 00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:16.139 he fell asleep and Saul approved 00:31:16.139 --> 00:31:17.159 of their killing him. 00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:19.019 On that day, 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:20.619 a great persecution broke out 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.879 against the church in Jerusalem 00:31:21.879 --> 00:31:23.479 and all except the apostles 00:31:23.479 --> 00:31:25.159 were scattered throughout Judea 00:31:25.159 --> 00:31:26.919 and Samaria. 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:29.000 The last thing about Stephen 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:30.600 is he died like Christ died. 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:32.480 He died outside of a city. 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:37.700 He died because religious people 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:39.180 wouldn't hear what he said 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.900 because they were stubborn. 00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.960 It literally says 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:45.960 when the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, 00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:47.200 they were cut to the heart. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.820 Exactly what happens 00:31:48.820 --> 00:31:50.480 when Stephen preaches his sermon 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.960 in Acts chapter 2. 00:31:52.820 --> 00:31:54.200 But this time they're not crying, 00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.900 what must we do to be saved? 00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:57.080 They're crying, 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.040 we must kill him. 00:31:58.840 --> 00:31:59.800 We won't listen. 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:01.680 They started gnashing their teeth, 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:01.880 you know, 00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:02.880 like when you upset a cat 00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:03.160 and it goes, 00:32:03.300 --> 00:32:05.620 that's what's going on here. 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:08.800 They drag him outside of the city. 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:10.420 They don't have authority to kill him, 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.180 but it doesn't matter. 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:13.460 This man must die. 00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:16.800 He's a real clear and present danger 00:32:16.800 --> 00:32:18.100 to us. 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:21.300 He looks and he sees heaven open 00:32:21.300 --> 00:32:22.080 and the Son of Man 00:32:22.080 --> 00:32:23.300 standing at the right hand of God, 00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:24.860 which is really interesting 00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:26.139 because when Jesus stands 00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:27.219 before the Sanhedrin, 00:32:27.459 --> 00:32:28.759 he tells the high priest 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.799 that you'll see me. 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.859 You'll see heaven open. 00:32:32.479 --> 00:32:33.219 The Son of Man 00:32:33.219 --> 00:32:34.399 standing at the right hand of God 00:32:34.399 --> 00:32:35.839 coming on the clouds of heaven. 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:37.339 It seems to have happened. 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:40.219 And they take him out 00:32:40.219 --> 00:32:42.119 and they stone him. 00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:44.740 Now, stoning people's hard work. 00:32:45.439 --> 00:32:46.500 I googled it this week. 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:48.119 How long does it take to stone people? 00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:50.359 I wonder what GCHQ made of that. 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:53.719 It takes over an hour. 00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:57.319 Sweaty work in a hot climate, 00:32:57.459 --> 00:32:59.459 so they lay their coats at Saul's feet. 00:33:00.219 --> 00:33:01.619 Why do they lay it at Saul's feet? 00:33:01.679 --> 00:33:03.919 Because he's the head honcho. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.759 He's the guy approving this. 00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:07.359 He's the guy who says, 00:33:07.459 --> 00:33:09.659 let's not go to see the Romans 00:33:09.659 --> 00:33:12.219 to get an imperial edict. 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:12.979 Let's just do it. 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:13.839 Give me your coats. 00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:14.500 Get on with it. 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:16.099 Let's silence him. 00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:18.759 And then how does Stephen die? 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:22.659 Lord, do not hold this sin against them. 00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:24.539 That's remarkably like Jesus, isn't it? 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.539 Father, forgive them. 00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:29.240 For they know not what they're doing. 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:32.319 This is a devastating deja vu. 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.839 But we see in Stephen 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:35.439 someone who lived as Jesus lived, 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.779 spoke as Jesus spoke, 00:33:37.179 --> 00:33:39.279 died as Jesus died, 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:40.379 and so forth things. 00:33:41.899 --> 00:33:43.639 Very quick, a sentence each. 00:33:43.719 --> 00:33:44.079 Choices. 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:46.759 We've all got a choice to make. 00:33:47.159 --> 00:33:49.199 Is what this says about Jesus true, 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:50.059 or is it not? 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:53.559 Some of us, like Old Testament Israel, 00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:55.679 are ardently resisting 00:33:55.679 --> 00:33:57.799 what we're coming to know is true. 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:00.579 That we think, actually, 00:34:00.639 --> 00:34:01.519 if I turn to Jesus, 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.579 there's a lot of stuff 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.759 that I need to give up. 00:34:04.119 --> 00:34:06.240 A lot of behavior I need to change. 00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:08.139 There's people I need to tell 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:09.639 who may not be too happy. 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.699 And so I wonder, 00:34:11.699 --> 00:34:12.299 are we? 00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:14.060 Are some of us, 00:34:14.100 --> 00:34:16.080 like those stiff-necked Sanhedrins, 00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.580 not changing course? 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.660 I'm not going to turn around 00:34:19.660 --> 00:34:21.560 and turn to Jesus. 00:34:21.680 --> 00:34:22.340 Maybe that's you. 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:23.640 Maybe that's somebody you know. 00:34:23.720 --> 00:34:25.200 Well, let's pray 00:34:25.200 --> 00:34:26.880 that they would not continue on 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:28.140 in futility. 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:31.060 There's a real challenge as well. 00:34:32.080 --> 00:34:33.280 A real challenge 00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.880 that we see Old Testament Israel 00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:36.280 bear the family resemblance 00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:37.300 of Old Testament Israel, 00:34:37.300 --> 00:34:38.019 Israel, 00:34:38.140 --> 00:34:39.180 and we see that Stephen 00:34:39.180 --> 00:34:40.480 bears the family resemblance 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.019 of Jesus. 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.860 I wonder, 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.960 whose resemblance do we bear? 00:34:46.140 --> 00:34:48.360 Do we live like Jesus lived, 00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:49.500 speaking of him, 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:52.220 trying to do his work with him, 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:53.780 empowered by the Holy Spirit? 00:34:55.080 --> 00:34:57.200 Or do we look exactly like we did 00:34:57.200 --> 00:34:58.320 before we met Jesus? 00:34:59.320 --> 00:35:01.000 See that there's a real cost. 00:35:02.140 --> 00:35:03.220 Stephen, in this passage, 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:05.120 plays an absolutely flawless game. 00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:07.859 He tells nothing but the truth, 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:08.759 the whole truth. 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:10.279 He tells the truth, 00:35:10.359 --> 00:35:10.799 the whole truth, 00:35:10.859 --> 00:35:11.960 and nothing but the truth. 00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:14.380 And yet he's killed for it, 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:15.639 and there's a real cost 00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:17.739 to telling people the truth 00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:18.400 about Jesus. 00:35:19.960 --> 00:35:20.739 And then, as we're going to see 00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:21.139 next week, 00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:22.000 there's a consequence. 00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:24.900 Stephen is the first martyr, 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:26.179 but there's going to be many more 00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:27.480 in church history to come. 00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:29.980 And as we read in the second half 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:31.019 of 8, chapter 1, 00:35:31.019 --> 00:35:32.980 it is this that catalyzes 00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:34.519 Christianity to go global. 00:35:35.859 --> 00:35:37.219 That the apostles stay, 00:35:37.299 --> 00:35:38.460 but everyone else spreads. 00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:40.500 And suddenly the message 00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:41.480 is going to get out there 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:43.059 as it's couriered by people 00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:45.799 that have been expelled 00:35:45.799 --> 00:35:46.519 from Jerusalem 00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:47.279 and now are going to go 00:35:47.279 --> 00:35:48.659 to Judea and Samaria 00:35:48.659 --> 00:35:50.779 and to the ends of the earth. 00:35:50.839 --> 00:35:51.719 It will get to Scotland. 00:35:51.859 --> 00:35:52.920 And why will it get to Scotland? 00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:54.679 Because it was catalyzed by this. 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.759 It's very true that God 00:35:58.759 --> 00:36:00.159 will bury his messengers, 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:01.699 but he'll never bury his message. 00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:04.179 And he'll even use the martyrdom 00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:05.739 of his messengers to amplify 00:36:05.739 --> 00:36:07.659 his message 00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:09.239 from east to west 00:36:09.239 --> 00:36:10.319 and across the world. 00:36:11.319 --> 00:36:12.259 Why don't I pray? 00:36:12.260 --> 00:36:20.540 Father God, 00:36:20.580 --> 00:36:21.820 we think of those martyrs 00:36:21.820 --> 00:36:23.320 under the altar of God 00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:24.840 who cry out, 00:36:25.040 --> 00:36:25.300 How long, 00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:26.060 Sovereign Lord, 00:36:26.160 --> 00:36:26.920 holy and true, 00:36:27.700 --> 00:36:28.660 until you judge 00:36:28.660 --> 00:36:30.000 the inhabitants of the earth 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:31.240 and avenge our blood? 00:36:34.140 --> 00:36:34.820 God says, 00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.880 Just a little while 00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:38.480 till the blood of the martyrs 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:39.120 is complete. 00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.500 Father, 00:36:39.779 --> 00:36:40.559 we thank you 00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:41.559 for the many people 00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:43.119 in history 00:36:43.719 --> 00:36:45.420 who have loved Jesus most 00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:46.819 even to the point of death. 00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:48.579 Father, 00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:49.199 we thank you 00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:50.279 that Stephen was 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:51.119 the trailblazer 00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:52.519 of martyrdom 00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:55.679 because he loved Jesus most, 00:36:55.759 --> 00:36:57.500 he looked like Jesus most. 00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:00.699 And Father, 00:37:00.799 --> 00:37:01.279 that meant 00:37:01.279 --> 00:37:02.799 that it cost him everything. 00:37:03.319 --> 00:37:03.559 And yet, 00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:03.739 Lord, 00:37:03.799 --> 00:37:04.119 thank you 00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:05.400 that he's with you 00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:07.119 and I pray 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:07.800 that the lessons 00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:08.680 we've learned this morning 00:37:08.680 --> 00:37:09.599 from his life 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:11.119 about the choice 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:11.880 we must make 00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.760 to follow Jesus, 00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:15.240 the real challenge 00:37:15.240 --> 00:37:16.579 to live all of our lives 00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:17.300 for Jesus, 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:20.280 Father, 00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:21.639 the real cost there is 00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:22.680 involved in that. 00:37:23.700 --> 00:37:24.380 And Lord, 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:25.440 that we might be involved 00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:26.680 in taking this message 00:37:26.680 --> 00:37:27.820 out from this place, 00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:28.900 Lord, 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:29.740 into Brunsfield, 00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:30.400 into Edinburgh, 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.700 into wherever we live, 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:34.000 even to the ends 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.639 of the earth. 00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:35.880 Father, 00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:36.300 thank you 00:37:36.300 --> 00:37:36.940 that your message 00:37:36.940 --> 00:37:37.680 is unstoppable. 00:37:38.760 --> 00:37:39.160 So Lord, 00:37:39.220 --> 00:37:40.340 would you amplify it 00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:41.039 through our lives, 00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:41.519 we pray. 00:37:42.160 --> 00:37:43.139 In Jesus' name. 00:37:43.740 --> 00:37:44.000 Amen.