Acts 7:54-60
Acts 7:54-60
August 2, 2020
Acts 7:54-60
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 1
Throughout history, when famous or even infamous people die, there have been stories of their last words. The “famous last words” have gone down in history for many. Some are true. Others seem to be sensationalized. Yet, we still see a great interest in hearing what was said by a person in their last breath.
According to history, and some passed on stories, here are some of the famous last words by some you may know...
ItalianartistRaphael(whomIbelievewasnamedafteraNinja Turtle) said “Happy.”
BluessingerBessieSmithdiedsaying“I’mgoing,butI’mgoingin the name of the Lord.”
GrouchoMarxsaid,“Thisisnowaytolive.”
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 7:54–60). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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KarlMarx,said,“Lastwordsareforfoolswhohaven’tsaid enough.”
WinstonChurchillsaid,“I’mboredwithitall.”
BobMarleysaid,“Moneycan’tbuylife.”
WhendrummerBuddyRichwasbeingpreppedforsurgeryin
1987, from which he never recovered, he was asked by the nurse
“Is there anything you can’t take.” He said, “Yeah, country music.”
HarrietTubmangatheredherfamilyatherdeathbedandsaid,
“Swing low, sweet chariot.”
Stephensaid,“Lord,donotholdthissinagainstthem.”
Whatever you think about last words, every person who has the capacity to say a word will have a last one...one day.
In this account in Acts 7, we finally come to the end of Stephen the deacon’s sermon to the religious council putting him on trial. We come to the end of this longest sermon in the book of Acts, but in truth, we don’t really get to the end of the sermon.
You see, before Stephen could finish, the ire of the listeners overtook them. Anger grew. The people listening, meaning the Sanhedrin council and religious leaders as well as others in the crowd responded by grinding their teeth at him.
That is an interesting and strange verse, isn’t it? But when we read it, we get it. Their anger is so intense, they are about to explode.
We see this elsewhere in Scripture.
In one account we see Job, the one being tormented by the enemy, poorly comforted by his friends, and going through great turmoil facing an accuser who grinds his teeth at him.
The enemy of God responds this way.
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These religious leaders, the respected ones in the city have had enough of Stephen’s sermon. What really set them off was his accusation that they were no different than their ancestors who turned on Moses and all the prophets, only to claim the name of God as his chosen people, but in disobedience and disregard to reject his redeemer and plan.
And...that led to the grinding of teeth and more.
Stephen was the first martyr, the first Christian to die in public like this because of his faith. He was to be the first of many and how he dies gives us insight into how we must live.
Look at these elements of the end of his story...
1. JESUS IS STANDING
55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Notice anything interesting about this account here? Jesus, the Son of God, God the Son, has already ascended into heaven. This occurred in the beginning of the book of Acts. Stephen and other disciples have been in the presence of the apostles as they were filled with the Spirit of God. Stephen and others, too who follow Christ are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. He gives them power, strength, hope, and peace. He directs them and leads them always toward the Son who is the Way, Truth, and Life...to the Father.
Our triune God, the one God, is true and revealing the way to the people.
Yet, just about every other instance we have of the metaphorical image of Jesus with the Father, he is described as sitting at the right hand.
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God’s right hand is the place of “highest favor with God the Father” (WLC, Q&A 54), and the phrase is used throughout Scripture to indicate His power and sovereignty (Ex.
15:6; Isa. 48:13). To say that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father is to say, as John Calvin explains, that “Christ was invested with lordship over heaven and earth, and solemnly entered into possession of the government committed to him — and that he not only entered into possession once for all, but continues in it, until he shall come down on Judgment Day”
This is stated throughout the Scriptures. Yet here we see Jesus standing, not sitting.
There is debate over what this actually means among theologians. A couple of reasons come to mind for me.
When I had the privilege of graduating with my doctorate a couple of years ago, we had a meeting with all the graduates to tell us where to walk, how to wear our gowns, etc., just like every graduation ceremony I’ve been in from high school to this point.
Then, we were told that when those who have earned their doctorate were introduced, they would walk across the stage to the seminary president and after their named was announced, their supervising professor, who was one of many seated in the loft, would stand up in their honor. I saw this at the university as well when my children graduated.
It is a nice acknowledgment from the one professor who was most responsible for signing off, leading the oral exams, and presenting the doctoral graduates publicly.
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It is a moving display of honor and friendship for work well done.
Another possible reason for the standing Christ is that of the host. As a host welcomes a beloved family member into his home, he stands to acknowledge him or her and welcome them back. You see, when someone you love but haven’t seen for a while comes home, you tend to stand up and welcome them in. Maybe the imagery of the father of the prodigal son comes to mind as he did not remain seated but actually stood, and in his case, ran to meet the son coming home.
Jesus stands, acknowledging the life of his faithful Stephen before the Father, and welcoming him home. Jesus – the way – stands to make it clear this one knew the way.
2. THE PEOPLE ARE SCREAMING
57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.
I can’t help but picture the child with his fingers in his ears yelling “LaLaLaLaLa” so he can’t hear that he’s being reprimanded. I heard of one parent at one of our local elementary schools who had a teacher trying to explain how their child was misbehaving, only to have the parent put her fingers in her ears and say “I’m not listening” and ignore the teacher.
Guess we know why the child was misbehaving.
Nevertheless, this act of immaturity is preceded by a boiling point of anger. The sins of the people is not real if they just ignore it, right? And...if they just get rid of the accuser, it will be as if their sin never existed.
And this is what actually happened.
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It’s a throwback to what happened to Christ. He spoke truth – the people didn’t want to hear. He was accosted, beaten, and eventually killed.
So, too would Stephen be.
3. STEPHEN IS STONED
58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
There is no verdict given at the trial.
The mob and/or the religious leaders are beyond logical thinking. The court here actually did not have the authority to put Stephen to death. Only the Romans could do that. So, when the riot occurred and the men picked up stones to throw at the accused, it was allowed to happen and the end result was what the religious leaders desired.
Death is imminent. Stephen knows this and not unlike his Savior, he prays.
His prayer to Jesus is like the prayer of Jesus to the Father while he was on the cross.
Luke 23:46
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.2
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 23:46). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 6
CONCLUSION
Stephen died as he lived.
Stephen’s death did not end his impact on others.
Even Paul, the great apostle and missionary, whom at the time was an enemy of the church stood by holding the cloaks of those who killed this man.
As I read this section of Scripture, some thoughts come to my mind that must be reconciled. Things that I believe all of us must come to grips with.
First – how we die reflects how we lived. I don’t know how or when I will die, but I know I will. When pastor John Powell was killed a few weeks ago in Texas by a truck that hit him while he had pulled over to assist another driver whose vehicle had broken down, it is said that he shoved another out of the way who would have been hit. It happened so quickly, he likely wasn’t even thinking about all the ramifications. Yet, here is a man who gave his life to Christ, served him, served others, and sought to see many saved. His last act was one of service and sacrifice. How he died was how he lived.
That should be all our desires. Meaning – since we know not when we will die, every moment of our lives must reflect who we are in Christ. Selfless living for the sake of the gospel is our goal.
Second – I desire that Jesus stand for me when I come home. Not because I’m anyone special. Not because I deserve anything. Not because I was a better Christian than you or anyone else. I desire that he stand in acknowledgment to the father that I am his and that I am home.
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Matthew 10:32-33
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. 3
He will stand for me. Therefore, I must now stand for him. What about you?
3 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 10:32–33). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Footnotes
