Acts 6 & 7 - A Face Of An Angel & The First Martyr | Zion | Gospel Boom Bap

Acts 5 ended with the apostles rejoicing through suffering. Acts 6 opens with the first internal tension in the early church. And Acts 7 contains the longest sermon in the book of Acts — and the first martyrdom. *What happens:* *Acts 6 — The First Deacons and Stephen* *A Problem in the Community — Acts 6:1-7* — The number of disciples is growing. But the Grecian Jews complain against the Hebraic Jews because their widows are being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The twelve gather the disciples. It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word to wait on tables. Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. The whole group is pleased. They choose Stephen — a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit — Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas. They present them to the apostles who pray and lay hands on them. The word of God spreads. The number of disciples increases rapidly. A large number of priests become obedient to the faith. *Stephen Arrested — Acts 6:8-15* — Stephen full of God's grace and power performs great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arises from the Synagogue of the Freedmen. They argue with Stephen but cannot stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gives him. They secretly persuade men to say he has spoken blasphemy against Moses and against God. They stir up the people and seize Stephen and bring him before the Sanhedrin. False witnesses testify that he never stops speaking against the holy place and against the law. All who are sitting in the Sanhedrin look intently at Stephen and see that his face is like the face of an angel. *Acts 7 — Stephen's Sermon and Martyrdom* *The Longest Sermon in Acts — Acts 7:1-53* — The high priest asks if the charges are true. Stephen launches into a sweeping retelling of Israel's entire history. Abraham called out of Mesopotamia. Joseph sold into Egypt and raised to second in command. Moses born and hidden and raised in Pharaoh's household. Moses rejected by his own people the first time — who made you ruler and judge? Moses fleeing to Midian. The burning bush. The exodus. The wilderness. The golden calf. The tabernacle. Solomon building the temple. And then the turn that gets him killed. The Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears. You always resist the Holy Spirit just as your ancestors did. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him. *The First Martyr — Acts 7:54-60* — When the council hear this they are furious and gnash their teeth. Stephen full of the Holy Spirit looks up to heaven and sees the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look he says I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. They cover their ears and yelling at the top of their voices rush at him. They drag him out of the city and begin to stone him. The witnesses lay their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they are stoning him Stephen prays — Lord Jesus receive my spirit. Then he falls on his knees and cries out — Lord do not hold this sin against them. And he dies. --- *The lesson Acts 6-7 lands on:* Two lessons woven together across two chapters. The first is structural. The apostles recognise that they cannot do everything and the mission will suffer if they try. The appointment of the seven is not a concession to administration — it is an act of wisdom. Freeing the apostles to pray and preach while releasing others to serve is what allows the word of God to spread. The church grows not by one person doing everything but by everyone doing what they are called to do. The second is costly. Stephen's sermon is not a defence of himself — it is a declaration about Jesus delivered to the people most likely to kill him for it. He knows what is coming and he preaches anyway. And when the stones start flying he sees heaven open and the Son of Man standing — not seated but standing — as if rising to welcome the first martyr home. Lord do not hold this sin against them. The last words of Stephen echo the last words of Jesus from the cross. The student died the way the teacher died. Forgiving the ones who killed him. And a young man named Saul stood watching. Approving. --- "Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit." — Acts 6:5 BSB "Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." — Acts 7:56 BSB "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." — Acts 7:60 BSB --- Find Us 👉 https://beacons.ai/rhythmandbible Shout Us A Coffee ☕ 👉 https://ko-fi.com/rhythmandbible