Last week, we: were introduced to Stephen, a man chosen by God to preach, teach and debate in the synagogues of Jerusalem. encountered an expanding evangelism within the early church – an increasing understanding of a growing love of God for those outside of the core of Judaism. encountered a growing desire to embrace in the very leadership of the church, those outside of the Twelve; those outside of the traditional core of Jewish religious leadership. God’s love shown through Christ Jesus bleeds beyond the borders of traditional Jewish thought.
The first thing we encounter is a question from the high priest in verse 1 - “Are these charges true?”. The charges brought against Stephen before the Sanhedrin were two-fold: Stephen had spoken against the temple Stephen had spoken against Moses and the law Over the next two weeks, we will examine Stephen’s defense against each charge; today we’ll look at his defense to the charge that he spoke against the temple.
Up until this point in the book of Acts, the message we’ve heard preached by the apostles sounds like this – you killed Jesus, God raised Him, we are witnesses. Stephen’s defense is a far more nuanced presentation . Greek Christians were a little more likely to push the boundaries on how Jesus as the Messiah impacts the temple and the system of temple worship itself. This speech marks a pretty decisive break between Judaism and Christianity. Stephen’s defense is that God is with His people regardless of where they find themselves; He not caged in a temple or in the nationalistic borders of Israel.
To provide a defense, Stephen uses the historical record of the people of Israel as his primary source. Stephen’s first point is that Abraham does not encounter God in the temple, nor does he even encounter God in the land of Israel. Abraham meets God: in Ur of the Chaldeans (modern day Iraq) In Haran (modern day Syria) Abraham lives as a resident alien in the Promised Land; the only land Abraham ever owns rights to in Israel is a burial plot for his wife Sarah and himself. God was present with Abraham and Abraham worshipped God wherever he found himself.
Stephen next introduces us to Joseph, who is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, where he eventually rises to a position of power. Even throughout some pretty horrific circumstances, it is incredibly clear that God is consistently with Joseph in Egypt. Joseph’s brothers encounter him in a position to meet their needs and Joseph allows his brothers to settle in Egypt, where they “acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number” (Genesis 47:27). Was God present with Joseph and his brothers in Egypt?
To this point in the story of the people of Israel, no one living has actually occupied any part of the Promised Land, yet God has been with them and they have worshipped God in the places they found themselves. Was God with his people as Moses led them out of Egypt into the wilderness? God was consistently present with His people in the wilderness, on the outskirts of the Promised Land, as they lived in tents and not established homes. “In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you” (Exodus 20:24, ESV). Wherever God is made known by His people, He will come there and bless His people.
God directed the construction of the tabernacle, a portable temple that would be a sign that God was literally present wherever the tabernacle was. Again, God would be present wherever His people were. It is not until King David desired to build a temple that the thought of a consistent settled structure built as a dwelling place for the Lord occurred. “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27). Even the builder of the Temple knew that God would not dwell solely within it like some imprisoned God in a beautiful ornamented cage.
Stephen quotes Isaiah 66:1-2 which reads: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?”. God Himself indicates that there is no house – no dwelling place and no Temple – that can contain Him. Isaiah 66:19-20 indicates that God would send out His people to the ends of the earth to proclaim His glory, bringing all His people, from the nations into His presence. If God has people in other nations, then how can God be a god contained within the borders of Israel, within a Temple of stone?
Stephen’s conclusion was that the Temple was not intended to become a permanent institution, halting the advance of the divine plan for the people of God in Jesus Christ. Stephen’s defense against the charge of speaking against the Temple is to show that rather than being concerned with an institution that is passing away because of the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the members of the Sanhedrin ought to be concerned with what they are doing with the message of the church, one based in the very Scriptures they so revere. Stephen’s defense is to bear witness to the incredible love of God shown in Jesus Christ.
Have I encountered this eternal, expanding, enveloping, borderless love of God shown through Jesus Christ? Do I know this love shown for me through Christ’s death on a cross? Do I know this love and have I responded by believing in Him? What greater love is there than such an eternal, expanding, enveloping, borderless love? God’s love in Christ Jesus is one in which Christ laid down his life for not only His friends, but those who were far from Him – yes, even His enemies.
Are we modelling a similar eternal, expanding, enveloping, borderless love to those with whom we interact? “Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12) Is this the kind of love you show to: your significant other? your children, your co-workers, or your neighbours? your enemies? If forced to offer a defense for our faith, would the love of God for that person be evident not only in the words we speak, but in the manner we deliver those words?