Acts 6:8-15

The story of Stephen (part 1)

Why does John focus in on Stephen in this part of his letter?

He is drawing attention to two truths that Christians sometimes like to ignore:

• We will have to face a lot of what Jesus faced in His trial
• We can be good witnesses through suffering

Facing Trial

When we join in the mission of God's kingdom, we are signing up for a lot of risk. Jesus Himself said that the world will hate us because of our alliegance to Him.

The actions of the Jewish leaders turned the people against the church for the first time. They cared more about themselves and the business of the temple than the truth about God so they called false witnesses against Stephen. Just like false witnesses were called against Jesus.

Comparing Stephen to Jesus

There are a lot of similarities between how Stephen acted and how Jesus faced His accusers:

• Both were put on trial before the Sanhedrin
• Both were accused by false witnesses
• Both were accused of acting against the temple
• Both referenced the temple as nothing more than a human-built object
• Both talk about the "Son of Man"
• Both were accused with blasphemy
• Both were questioned by the High Priest
• Both commited their Spirit to God as they died
• Both cired out as they died
• Both pray intercession for thei killers

As we go through persecution and trials, we too should model Christ as much as we can.

Witness through persecution

Stephen was able to stay calm and mirror Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot plan our persecution, but if we always walk for Jesus, we will always be ready to speak for Jesus, even in the toughest of situations.