16. Faith in the Face of Persecution

Posted on Posted in Sermon Notes Tagged with , , , ,

Hymns: RHC 431 Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken 444 Hold the Fort 441 Faith Is the Victory

Acts 6:8-15

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Faith in the Face of Persecution

OUTLINE

  • Defending the Faith (v8-10)
  • Despising the Shame (v11-15)

INTRODUCTION

Faith in the Face of Persecution – Acts 6:8-15. The Bible and church history gives to us so great a cloud of faithful witnesses who have completed their Christian race with distinction for the testimony of living and true God and His Son, Jesus Christ, Creator of the heavens and the earth, the only Lord and Saviour of the world.

What was their secret of success? Hebrews 11 and 12 tells us these all have faith. By faith, they did exploits for God.

The Westminster Confession of Faith defines for us such saving faith. 

2. By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein [e]; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands [f], trembling at the threatenings [g], and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come [h]. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace [i]. 

Saving faith causes the believer to embrace the Holy Scriptures as the very written word of God. When we read the Bible, God speaks to us! This is clearly stated in 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 

The word of God is to be reverently “received” with thanksgiving for it is the truth that has the power to transform lives. 

Dean Burgon wrote this most beautiful statement of faith on the undisputable authority of Holy Scriptures as the very breath of God when he said, “The Bible is none other than the voice of Him that sitteth upon the Throne! Every Book of it, every chapter of it, every verse of it, every word of it, every syllable of it, every letter of it, is the direct utterance of the Most High! The Bible is none other than the Word of God: not some part of it more, some part of it less; but all alike, the utterance of Him who sitteth upon the Throne; faultless, unerring, supreme!”

Hence, the Westminster Divines wanted to highlight the following aspects of God’s Word:

  • The Authority of God speaking in every passage of Scripture.
  • The commands are to be obeyed.
  • The warnings of God’s judgments are to be received with fear and trembling. It seeks to instill the fear of God in the hearts of the believer, thereby, leading to obedience and God’s blessings.
  • The promises of God in the Bible provide for us every balm for the aching soul on this earth. Promises of God’s protection, provision and special providence (the God that has created all things is indeed very much alive sustaining all things henceforth).
  • The prophesies of God in the Bible provide for us fullness of the hope for the future especially giving victory over the sting of death and eternal life with God in heaven. It gives the believer present joy in the midst of trials and difficulties.

If you read through review through the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith, you will find the men listed there exhibiting an unwavering loyalty to their Lord and Master. They fear to offend God than to offend men. 

Hebrews 11:32-40 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (enemies) 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

The Christian’s witness is not just in the preaching of the gospel but also in the defence of the faith. It’s so risky! Be assured God is with you.

1 Peter 3:12-16 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

The infant church has been making advances in the preaching of the gospel. There were great wonders and miracles wrought by the apostles. They authenticated the gospel message they preached and many, Luke wrote, were added to the church! 

But the Christian witness is not just to preach the gospel but also to defend the faith, to give a reason why we believe what we believe!

This was what Stephen, one of the seven deacons, of the infant church did.

Two thoughts:

  • Defending the Faith (v8-10)
  • Despising the Shame (v11-15)

How did Stephen glorify the Lord?

Hebrews 12:2-3 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

(1) Defending the Faith (v8-10)

8 And Stephen… full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 

Stephen, the first Christian martyr, left us an example of a godly, courageous witness. His name means “victor’s crown or wreath” 

The victor in an athletic contest is crowned with a “stephanos”. As the other six deacons, he is like a Greek-speaking Jewish settler in Jerusalem originally from somewhere in the empire.[1]

… full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Because of his faith and being a vessel totally surrendered to the Spirit’s work, God is able to do powerful works through Stephen. To be full of faith is to trust God!

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

This word “power” is literally the word “dynamite”.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

This man Stephen is one who is under the full sway of the Holy Spirit in his life. 

He is a man of good report, full with the Holy Ghost and wisdom, the application of God’s word in everyday life. 

These probably include miraculous healings and the casting out of unclean spirits among the unbelieving Jews. Because of these remarkable signs, he is likely gaining a strong and receptive hearing for his proclamation of the gospel.[2]

Except for the 12 apostles, only Stephen, Philip (8:6-7), and Barnabas (15:12) in the early church are reported to have performed miracles.

10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Wisdom comes from a Hebrew word meaning “skill.” It refers to right conduct in obedience to God’s will, not just to mastering a body of knowledge. God’s wisdom is summed up in Jesus Christ and the cross. To those who are perishing, the cross is foolishness, but to those who have been called by God, Christ is both “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:18, 24). 

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:24-28 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

To be people full of wisdom, we must grow in our understanding of the cross of Christ, where human pride is humbled and God’s grace is exalted. Every system of salvation that mingles good works with God’s grace nullifies the cross and is opposed to God’s wisdom. Faithful witnesses, like Stephen, will refute the wisdom of this world and will extol the wisdom of Christ and the cross. [Cole]

God’s mighty power is shown in our lives when we patiently and joyfully endure trials, not just when we are miraculously delivered from them (Col. 1:11-12). 

Colossians 1:11-12 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

When unbelievers see us going through trials with joy and thanksgiving, it provides the platform for powerful verbal witness. [Cole]

9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians (From two major cities in North Africa), and of them of Cilicia and of Asia (From two Roman provinces in Asia Minor), disputing (argued, it speaks of a debate – centred upon the Person of Jesus Christ – His death, resurrection and Messiahship of Jesus and the inability of the Mosaic law to save) with Stephen. 

Saving Faith is defined as the grace from God that enables those, whom God had chosen from the beginning of the world (the elect), to believe, resulting in the salvation of their souls. 

Saving faith is made possible by the working of Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer, here called the Spirit of Christ, in tandem with preaching of the Word of God, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The synagogue of emancipated slaves (Freedmen). This particular synagogue thus probably consisted of Jews from Rome who were freed from slavery and migrated back to Jerusalem. They banded together and formed their own synagogue where they could worship and praise God in Greek. 

During the many battles that took place in Palestine leading up to the conquering of Palestine by the Romans (63. B.C.), many Jews were captured, taken to Rome, and sold as slaves. Philo refers to the Jewish sector of the city of Rome populated mainly by emancipated Jewish slaves who had gained Roman citizenship. 

The Freedmen were descendants of Jewish slaves captured by Pompey in 63 B.C. and taken to Rome. When they were later expelled from Rome, some went to Jerusalem and formed a synagogue there. 

Scholars are divided over how many synagogues are represented in 6:9, but probably there were two: the Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians on the one hand; and the men from Cilicia and Asia on the other (A. T. Robertson, A Grammar of the Greek New Testament [Broadman], p. 788). Paul was from Cilicia (a province in southern Asia Minor) and may have been one of the debaters who could not cope with Stephen’s wisdom. [Cole]

Dispute…in a negative sense dispute, debate, argue with (v9).  

(2) Despising the Shame (v11-15)

11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 

Hebrews 12:2-3 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

He is the Author, or Pioneer, of our faith in the sense that He has provided us with the only perfect example of what the life of faith is like.

He is also the Finisher of our faith. He not only began the race but finished it triumphantly. For Him the race course stretched from heaven to Bethlehem, then on to Gethsemane and Calvary, then out of the tomb and back to heaven. At no time did He falter or turn back. He kept His eyes fixed on the coming glory when all the redeemed would be gathered with Him eternally. This enabled Him to think nothing of shame and to endure suffering and death. Today He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [Believers’ Bible]

The word “suborned” is from the preposition from hupó, “under”, and the verb bállō, to throw, place. 

To introduce underhandedly, to make a secret agreement, to suborn, put forward by collusion. To suborn in the legal sense is to induce a person to make a false oath, i.e., to commit perjury.

13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 

He was charged with speaking against the Jewish law. There is nothing in Stephen’s address to indicate that he attacks the law. The fact that Luke refers to the witnesses as false, indicates he disagrees with their charge. The false witnesses also accuse Stephen of speaking against the temple. The evidence of this charge is claim that Stephen says that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place. This echoes the false charge brought against Jesus in his trial.

Mark 14:57-59 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, 58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. 59 But neither so did their witness agree together.

While it is true that Jesus said that the temple would be destroyed and not one stone will be left on another (Luke 21:6), this is a long way from saying that Jesus Himself would destroy it. 

Interesting, the community behind the gnostic Gospel of Thomas attributes the destruction of the temple to Jesus.

At the inquiry before the Sanhedrin, the high priest took two approaches. The first was an attempt to convict the Saviour of being a serious threat to the safety and sanctity of the temple. This required false witness. This tactic failed because the witnesses’ stories were not in agreement. The witnesses’ poor testimony was an embarrassment to the conspirators. 

The second approach used to procure a conviction was to ask Jesus directly if He was the Messiah, the Son of God. If Christ answered in the affirmative, then the court could accuse the Saviour of blasphemy (a death penalty offence) and they could tell Pilate that our Lord’s claim to be a king was an act of treason before Casear. They would use this admission to press Pilate on the necessity of the death penalty. Whether Caiaphas’ question to Jesus was premeditated or a spur of the moment act of desperation we have no way of knowing. We do know, however, that our Lord’s claim, teachings and miracles were driving Caiaphas and the Jewish leaders mad with envy and hatred.

In both Mark and Matthew’s account, after a number of false witnesses failed to make a viable case against the Saviour, two came forward (Matt. 26:61; Mark 14:57 says certain men stood up) whose stories were similar enough to make an accusation as a pair. One man alleged, “This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and build it in three days (Matt. 26:61). The other testified, “we heard Him say, “I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another without hands (Mark 14:58).

The accusation that our Lord was going to destroy the temple is a serious one. To the Jews the destruction of their Temple was like the destruction of the nation. In the Greco-Roman world, the desecration of places of worship has always been regarded as a capital offence, the mere threat of violence against the Temple might well seem to the Sanhedrin a crime meriting the death penalty. 

Our Lord’s statement about the destruction of His temple or body was widely misunderstood and was no doubt a sore point of contention.

The two witnesses also contradicted. One said Jesus said “I am able to destroy the Temple which the other witness testified that Our Lord said “I will destroy the Temple.”

2 Timothy 1:6-10 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

I’m not sure what the face of an angel looks like, but Stephen had such a countenance as he stood before the council. I presume that Luke got this report from Paul, who was there. Whether it was a radiant glow, like the shining of Moses’ face when he came down from the mountain, or a serene calmness, we can’t say. But his face did not look normal. Howard Marshall says, “The description is of a person who is close to God and reflects some of His glory as a result of being in His presence (Ex. 34:29ff.)” (Acts [IVP/Eerdmans], p. 131). [Cole]

CONCLUSION

  • Defending the Faith (v8-10)
  • Despising the Shame (v11-15)

[1] Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary Volume 2, Zondervan, 2002, 264.

[2] Ibid.