1. What is the Gospel message centered in? (Deut 20:1, John 17:17)
2. How is Christ figured into Stephen’s message? (Zech 9:9)
3. What is the significance of pointing to the Tabernacle and Temple? (1Cor. 3:16, 17; 6:19 Eph. 2:21; Heb. 3:6)
4. How does pointing to idolatry in the Hebrew culture figure in? (1Cor 10:14; Gal 5:20; Col 3:5; 1Pet 4:3)
5. What is the response of those who hear the Gospel? (Acts 2:37, 5:3, 22:22-23; Isa 55:11; Rom 10:17)
6. What other scriptures speak of men’s hearts being impacted by the Gospel? (Jer 23:29; Heb 4:12-13; 1Thess 2:13; 1Pet 1:13)
7. Why is Stephens’s death important? (Acts 8:1-4; 22:17-20)
8. What purpose does it accomplish? (John 12; Rom 11:28-36)
9. Extra Points Question: Who said, “The blood of the Martyrs is the seeds of the Church.”?

The God of Glory- Recall that primarily this is the response Stephen is giving. “God is God.” God does what He wants when He wants to, enduring the sins of the chosen to bring into view the good purpose of His will. Stephen is referring to Psalm 29:3 which says:

A Psalm of David.
Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, And the Lord sits as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace. (Psalm 29:1-11, NKJV)

The thread leading to the accusation Stephen brings in v. 51 is bound up in Verse 37:

“This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’

Here the theme of Prophet comes sharply into view. Stephen, from the Old Testament delivers a short recursive history of the Jewish rejection of the God of Glory according to the recorded teaching of the Prophets, who were always sent to call the people to worship and serve God in the manner He desires:

Golden Calf (Ex 32:1-6, Deut 9:16, Psalm 106:19)
The Tabernacle of Moloch (1 Kings 23:10, Jer 7:31, 32:35)
The Star of Remphan (Amos 5)

Gods response Exile!

Even though God delivered them through the wilderness, even though God gave them the Tabernacle and the Temple, the people rejected God even a Moses the Prophet said:

“But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation. They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; With abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, To gods they did not know, To new gods, new arrivals That your fathers did not fear. Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, And have forgotten the God who fathered you. (Deuteronomy 32:15-18, NKJV)

Ultimately the proclamation against the Council is a complete indictment against them, a reversal of Stephen’s position as the accused to the accuser.

1. Who is Stephen?
2. How Was Stephen Chosen?
3. Why is it important to remember of Context of Acts Chapter 6?
4. What can we learn from Stephen?
5. What is the point of the historical account Stephen Gives?
6. What is the Gospel?
7. How should we proclaim the Gospel?
8. How did Stephen declare the Gospel to the high Priest and Council?
9. What themes did Stephen use?
10. Does he proclaim Jesus of Nazareth as the Savior?
11. Should we consider this a seeker sensitive or friendly message?
12. How do Steven’s actions encourage you?

The God of Glory- Answering the tainted question by proclaiming the God of Glory, silences the accusers in the strongest possible way. We have already been told the Spirit of Wisdom (Acts 6:10) is given to Stephen, there is no reason to believe anything has changed here.

The essential statements given are all focused on God and Gods interactions with the Jews. Beginning at Abraham, before the “covenant of circumcision” has been given; the God of Glory was initiating and establishing His will and purpose in the history of the Jews.

This is seen in the choice to start the Historical narrative before Moses with Abraham, and before the covenant sign, which had by this time become a point of contention between the follows of Jesus and the Judiazers. This is very important in the argument presented. God does whatsoever he will, even tell Abraham, that the descendants would be enslaved, and He would exact vengeance from the people that enslaved them. God was God before there were Jews, and He is still God at the disbanding of the unique relationship of one particular people, and the establishment of the Messiah, and particular people of every tribe tongue and nation.

Next Stephen points out the behavior of the Jews from their own history. When God favored and blessed one above another, those not chosen persecute the chosen and this is the summary of the stories which follow.

Also, God does what seems hard or even completely opposite to what men might think God would do for his chosen people. He enslaves Joseph, who is persecuted, jailed and then placed into a position of power. Meanwhile, He exposes the Patriarchs to famine, thus driving them to the one they once persecuted.

By means they never could have dreamed of, God supplied the needs of his people, and set in motion the promise of enslavement for all the people. And through this enslavement, Moses is introduced and the same themes are repeated.

The common thread is the Promise of God, the promises made to Abraham fulfilled, in a way that the chosen of God did not accept and rejected until by the forceful hand of God, the truth was revealed and none could contest the outcome.

Such is the story of Joseph and Moses. We might discuss the failings of these men. Pride followed by humility, bitterness by repentance, disobedience and then obedience.

But the thread leads to the accusation Stephen is leading to (v. 51) is bound up in Verse 37:

“This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’

It’s important to note that Christ has not been mentioned by name in this proclamation, He will not be. The closest Stephen comes is later in the passage, where calls Christ the “Just One!” Ultimately, the point is the God of Glory has said this was going to happen. The Just One has come. Acts 3:14, 22:14. Zac 9:9. Romans 5:1. 1 Cor 1:30. 1 Pet 3:18. 1 John 2:1. Rev 3:7.

A study by Kent Wilkens
Kent was an influence in my life for many years, as a God fearling and Bible loving child of the light. The study presented below (and commented on by me at the end,) was written in the Mid 1980′s. (Funny thing how the truth remains relevant, forever.) Kent has been blessed with a wonderful family and an artist’s heart and talents. Please visit his site to review his awesome art, and learn a bit more about the man.

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What is it? Does it apply to Christians? If so why should we fear God? What are the benefits? Are there any other practical applications?Since I have this most peculiar habit of turning to the word of God for such answers (happen to believe that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 has some meaning behind it), I will share with you what I have found. Because of the large number of scriptures on this subject, I will quote only one from the O.T. and one from the N.T. for each aspect that I will look at.

THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE

PROVERBS 1:7 NKJV The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

PHILIPPIANS 2:12 NKJV Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

SHOULD WE FEAR GOD?

JOSHUA 4:24 NKJV “that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

MATTHEW 10:28 NKJV “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

WAS IT A COMMAND?

DEUTERONOMY 10:12 NKJV “And now, Israel, what does the Lord God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

1 PETER 2:17 NKJV Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

WHY SHOULD WE FEAR GOD?

PSALM 76:7-12 NKJV 7 You, Yourself, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence When once You are angry? 8 You caused judgement to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still, 9 When God arose to judgment, To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. 11 Make vows to the Lord your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared. 12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is terrible to the kings of the earth.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:10-11 NKJV 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I trust are well known in your consciences.

SHOULD WE FEAR ANYTHING ELSE?

ISAIAH 8:12-13 NKJV 12 “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. 13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.

LUKE 12:4-5 NKJV 4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

WHEN SHOULD WE FEAR GOD?

DEUTERONOMY 4:10 NKJV “especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’

1 PETER 1:17 NKJV And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear;

WHAT IS THE MAJOR PRACTICAL BENEFIT OF THIS DOCTRINE?

PROVERBS 16:6 NKJV In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

2 CORINTHIANS 7:1 NKJV Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

SOME OTHER PRACTICAL BENEFITS

PSALM 34:9 NKJV Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

LUKE 1:50 NKJV And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

WERE PEOPLE CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THIS

EXODUS 18:21 NKJV “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

ACTS 10:35 NKJV “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

HOW DO WE LEARN TO FEAR THE LORD?

PROVERBS 2:1-5 NKJV 1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,

ROMANS 11:19-22 NKJV 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

WHY DO SOME OF US NOT FEAR GOD?

ISAIAH 57:11 NKJV “And of whom have you been afraid, or feared that you have lied And not remembered Me, Nor taken it to your heart? Is it not because I have held My peace from of old That you do not fear Me?

HAND IN HAND WITH FEAR:
FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS

DEUTERONOMY 5:29 NKJV ‘Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

ACTS 10:35 NKJV “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

WHO WILL FEAR HIM

PSALM 33:8 NKJV Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

REVELATION 15:4 NKJV Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgements have been manifested.”

DOES THIS FEAR HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE GOSPEL?

REVELATION 14:6-7 NKJV 6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth– to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people–7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgement has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

DOES IT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH SALVATION?

PSALM 85:9 NKJV Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.

PHILIPPIANS 2:12 NKJV Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

TO WHOM DOES GOD SHOW MERCY

PSALM 33:18 NKJV Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,

PSALM 103:11 NKJV For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

PSALM 103:17 NKJV But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,

PSALM 118:4 NKJV Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.”

PSALM 147:11 NKJV The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.

LUKE 1:50 NKJV And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

DID THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH FEAR GOD?

ACTS 2:43 NKJV Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
ACTS 5:5,11 NKJV 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
ACTS 9:31 NKJV Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
ACTS 19:17 NKJV This became known both to all Jews and Greeks welling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

Kent’s Comments

When was the last time you heard this message in a sermon. For me it has been so very seldom that I cant remember one instance, but I am sure there were, just as I have read these scriptures many times and never really understood them. When I consider the spiritual state of the church and the average Christian today I can say in most cases “There is no fear of God before their eyes”(ROM 3:18 NKJV).

I consider my own spiritual state, on this subject and I cannot say that I have been “perfecting holiness in the fear of God”(2 COR 7:1 NKJV).

I cannot agree with Paul when he says “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord”(2 COR 5:11 NKJV).

I cannot say along with Peter that I have been “conducting myself throughout the time of my sojourning here in fear;”(1 PET 1:17) (PARAPHARSED)

If the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”(the Hebrew word for beginning is the same one used for the beginning of the word of God and creation itself “In the beginning”) and you make claims to being a Christian and do not fear God, then I would say that you are not wise. How many of us Christians do all kinds of good deeds, in the name of the Lord, and then turn around and do something abominable. How many of us practice what we preach one day and don’t the next. I have found that doing good as a Christian is usually rather easy, but I have also found that “keeping oneself unspotted from the world”(JAMES 1:27) is a rather difficult proposition to maintain. Is it possible? The answer now seems to be clear.

Is it the end of religious knowledge? No, just a beginning, but without it have we truly begun?

I could go on but I think I would prefer to hear some replies (affirmations, constructive criticism, rebuttals) before I put into writing any further insights on the meaning and application of such a sober doctrine.

May the mercy, grace and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and in you!

Selah

P.S. PRAY FOR, OR DESIRE A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD IN YOUR LIFE, ABOUT AS OFTEN AS YOU WOULD FLY A KITE IN A LIGHTNING STORM. IT IS SIMILAR TO PRAYING FOR PATIENCE. LET HIS FEAR COME FROM A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF HIS WORD, BY STUDY. LET THE CHANGE BE IN THE HEART, BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE WORD OF GOD AND THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

BibleFreak’s Comments

I thank God for Kent’s commitment to keeping the Word as his primary source of encouragement. There are no few Christians today substituting their “view” or “understanding” for the plain Word of Truth.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.(AV)
John 17:17

The sanctification of man comes not through the well-meaning efforts of Christians. The acts of the truly converted are evident in the actions of Love that account to the work of faith, not dependent upon the will of caregivers, mothers, father, or ministers; instead the actions of Love which are the result of-

God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.(AV)
Philippians 2:13

Contact Info

KentWilkens@aol.com

BibleFreak@biblefreak.org