Exposition of Acts: Fate of a Martyr
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. CONTRAST
A. EXHORTATION
Acts 7:51b-53 “You . . . always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom now YOU have betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels but did not keep it.”
>>1. REJECTION OF SPIRIT OF GOD (Jn 3:36)
>>2. REJECTION OF PROPHETS (Mt 23:28-31)
>>3. REJECTION OF MESSIAH (Mt 9:17)
>>4. REJECTION OF THE LAW (Phil 3:6)
B. EXCORIATION
Acts 7:54 As they listened to this, they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
>>1. REACTION IN MIND
>>2. REACTION IN DEFIANCE (Mt 8:12; Acts 4:8; 5:27)
II. CONCENTRATION
A. EXALTATION
Acts 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
>>1. REVELATION OF GLORY
>>2. REVELATION OF JESUS (Mt 26:64; Col 3:1; Mt 10:32)
B. EXCLAMATION
Acts 7:56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
>>1. RESPONSE OF FAITH (Mt 26:65-66)
>>2. RESPONSE OF PROMISE
III. CONDEMNATION
A. EXECUTION
Acts 7:57-58; 8:1 But they cried out with a loud voice and covered their ears and rushed together at him. Then they drove him out of the city and began stoning him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of Saul, a man in the prime of life; Saul gave approval for his execution.
>>1. RETALIATION OF THE MOB (Jn 16:2-3; Mk 5:13)
>>2. RETALIATION OF THE NEW LEADER (Acts 26:10)
B. EXPECTATION
Acts 7:59-60 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 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. REPLY OF CONFIDENCE
>>2. REPLY OF FORGIVENESS (Lk 23:34; II Chron 14:11)
WE REST ON THEE
“We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Yes, in Thy Name, O Captain of salvation!
In Thy dear Name, all other names above;
Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.
Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.
We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender,
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.”
Elizabeth Elliot titled her story of Jim Elliot, “Through Gates of Splendor”