2. Acts Chapter 6 verse 8 – Chapter 7 verse 60
A GODLY MARTYR
Acts Chapter 6 verse 8 – Chapter 7 verse 60
Introduction
The Church so far (Acts 1 – 6 verse 7)
Foundations for World Mission (Acts 6 verse 8 – Chapter 12)
Stephen the Martyr.

3. Who was Stephen?
Stephen was one of the seven chosen to serve (Acts Chapter 6 verse 5)
He was prayed for and commissioned (Acts Chapter 6 verse 6)
Stephen had a powerful ministry beyond serving. (Acts Chapter 6 verse 8)
He spoke with wisdom and in the Spirit (Acts 6 verse 10)

4. Stephen Challenged the Synagogue
(Acts 6 verse 14)
Temple – ‘heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy
this place’
‘’the temple he had spoken of was his body’
(John Chapter 2 verse 21)
Law – ‘will change the customs that Moses handed on to us’
‘Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to
fulfil them’
(Matthew 5 verse 17)

5. Stephen’s arrest and defence
The Council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
(Acts Chapter 6 verse 15)
2. Abraham (Acts Chapter 7 verses 2 – 8)
‘Leave your country and relatives and go to the
land that I will show you’
3. Joseph (Acts Chapter 7 verses 9 – 16)
‘God rescued him from all his troubles and gave him
wisdom so that he gained the goodwill of Pharaoh and
was promoted to be ruler over Egypt’

6. Stephen leaves his judges in no doubt of his immense respect for
4. Moses (Acts Chapter 7 verses 17 – 43)
Stephen leaves his judges in no doubt of his immense respect for
Moses’ leadership and lawgiving.
5. David and Solomon (Acts Chapter 7 verses 44 – 50)
‘David who found favour with God and asked that he might find a
dwelling place for the house of Jacob, but it was Solomon who
built a house for him’

7. And so! 1. ‘Compliments’ made to the Council 2. Reactions
a. The Council (enraged Acts Chapter 7 verse 54)
b. Stephen (filled with the Holy Spirit Acts Chapter 7 verse 55)
Being stoned and facing death.
‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ (Acts Chapter 7 verse 59)
‘Lord do not hold this sin against them’ (Acts Chapter 7 verse 60)

8. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church
(Tertullian)
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.
(Jim Elliott)

9. And Saul approved of their killing him
(Acts Chapter 8 verse 1)