The twists and turns of life usually come with little warning. Suddenly, out of the blue… WHAM! A massive change happens, and your life takes a serious turn. This is certainly the sense one gets when reading Stephen’s story in the book of Acts. Stephen is first introduced in the early parts of chapter 6. He was a man full of the Spirit and what appears to be destined to minister in important ways in the Church. Along with the Apostles, Stephen is portrayed as one whom we are to emulate, one whose career we should closely follow. Instead, the very next story has him seized and brought before the ruling council to explain himself. Then Stephen launches into a chapter-long summation of the Old Testament.
We might well wonder why. Why does Stephen, having preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ, explain himself by recounting Old Testament Scripture?
Much of our confusion, I believe, is due to a failure to understand what exactly the Scriptures are for. Why did God grant us the Bible to begin with? Why has the Bible consistently been crucial to the Christian life? The opening paragraph of the Westminster Confession of Faith, an accurate summary of the biblical teaching that has helped guide the church for hundreds of years, helps provide an answer.
Our natural understanding and the works of creation and providence so clearly show God’s goodness, wisdom, and power that human beings have no excuse for not believing in Him. However, these means alone cannot provide that knowledge of God and of His will which is necessary for salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at different times and in various ways to reveal Himself and to declare that this revelation contains His will for His church. Afterwards it pleased God to put this entire revelation into writing so that the truth might be better preserved and transmitted and that the church, confronted with the corruption of the flesh and the evil purposes of Satan and the world, might be more securely established and comforted. Since God no longer reveals Himself to His people in those earlier ways, Holy Scripture is absolutely essential. Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, paragraph 1.
There are lots and lots of words here, and our attention can easily wander while reading this. But, the argument is quite clear and convincing:
- Step 1: By creation, we all know enough about God to be judged guilty for our sin.
- Step 2: But we do not know enough about salvation through creation alone.
- Step 3: Therefore, God spoke directly to His people about the plan of salvation.
- Step 4: This plan was faithfully recorded for others through time.
- Step 5: Therefore, Scripture is necessary so that we can know God’s will and salvation.
It is this goal of knowing God’s will and salvation which motivate Stephen’s speech in chapter 7 of Acts. Stephen is upholding the Scripture, not simply as a history of Israel, but as a history of redemption, a recounting of all that God has done and is doing for the salvation of His people. And, this is what infuriates the Jewish leaders: instead of viewing the Bible as a story of Israel’s privileged relationship with God, Stephen points out that Scripture makes known God’s salvation independently of merit—it is by grace you have been saved! And, this truth, the Jewish leaders will not tolerate.
It is, however, a truth we must embrace, in part through the reading and understanding of the Old Testament. But, for this week’s worship service, read Acts chapters 6 & 7. See you there!
- In preparation for reading the speech, read the surrounding contexts: Acts 6:8-15 and 7:54-60. How do these passages give context to the speech?
- How does Stephen’s speech answer the high priest’s question (verse 1)?
- As Stephen recounts the events of the Old Testament, why do you suppose he begins with the call of Abraham and not, say, the creation in Genesis chapter 1?
- As you read Stephen’s Old Testament summary, why does he include some events, and appear to skip over others? What accounts for his selection of topics to mention?
- How and why does Stephen transfer from talking about the Temple Solomon built, to his direct condemnation of the Jewish rulers in verse 51? How is this an accurate summary of his story so far?
By Henry Knapp