THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Acts 6:1-8:3

Lee Compson

"The Empire Strikes Back" – In the Star Wars series, "The Empire Strikes Back" is the second of the original trilogy. It is the darkest of the Star Wars films. As the series portrays the clash between good and evil, the original film shows the good guys gaining a victory. In the Empire Strikes Back though, evil seems to have won. As it ends, the bad guys have gained the upper hand.

As the Church is forming in the early part of Acts, a similar sequence of events occurs. God has disciplined and purified the church, and the church has grown. God is at work as many have believed the message about Jesus and have joined the community in Jerusalem.

The religious leaders take notice and arrest the apostles-but God promptly frees them in the middle of the night. Try as they might the religious leaders cannot not prevent the apostles from preaching the good news that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior. They confront the apostles, beat them, warn them, but that only produced an exciting joy in the apostles, as they count it a privilege that they were found worthy to suffer for Jesus.

As Pastor Ralph mentioned last week, while discipline and purification lead to growth, growth leads to jealousy and the jealousy results in persecution. The Empire will Strike Back. That’s what happens in our passage tonight, Acts 6 – 8:3.

With the rapid growth of the Church, an internal problem arises in the community of believers. The persecution doesn’t come in this first part of chapter 6, but some of the groundwork is laid for the upcoming chapters. 6:1-7 records how seven men are chosen to meet an internal need. This internal need stemming from the rapid growth of the church, many people believing in Jesus. Look at 6:1-7 with me…

2 Purposes:

How the early church dealt with a significant problem

This account of the seven chosen to serve the need serves a two purposes. First it records how the early church dealt with a significant problem. The problem is the conflict between the Greek Jews and the Hebrew Jews. Widows who are Greek or Hellenistic Jews are not being taken care of. This was not a deliberate oversight but one that develops as the Church grows. In many ways though not deliberate, it was a result of prejudice. Hellenistic Jews were those who had adopted Greek culture, lifestyle, who were looked down on by the more proper and ‘faithful’ Hebrew Jews. Yet the apostles realize that there was no need for such a conflict within the body of Christ. They promptly call for seven leaders to be chosen – men with a reputation for being wise and full of the Spirit. The apostles delegated to those who were chosen the oversight of meeting these needs while they themselves focused on their primary calling of prayer and teaching. These new ministers, these deacons were not second-class leaders but filled a vital role. The entire process resulted in more growth. Read vs.7 again. The possible conflict was avoided and the church continued to grow, even reaching priests. The church was quick to see the problem and move to solve it.

It introduces us to two major characters-Stephen and Phillip

But that is only one of the purposes of this section, as we read it more closely, we notice that it also serves to introduce us to two major characters-Stephen and Phillip, who will rise to the top in the following chapters, did you notice them? Read vs.5 again. Stephen especially emphasized as full of faith and the Spirit. Hmm. I wonder if we will need to remember that?

Well, that is an obvious question because right away we see that Stephen develops into quite a leader in the Church - described as "full of grace and power.". Look at verse 8 – read vs. 8. Our man Stephen is definitely quite a leader, Not just wise and spirit-filled, but a man of grace and compassion who like Christ and the apostles did great miracles.

(The first individual other than Jesus or the disciples the N.T. records with this power)

But Stephen’s leadership provokes opposition. Read vs.9-11. Unfortunately for his opponents, they can’t debate him, his wisdom and spiritual discernment, his spiritual integrity is such that they cannot get the best of him. His opponents can’t debate him.

There’s the old saying, "if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em." These opponents, religious leaders other synagogues never heard of that principle. Instead His opponents try to tarnish his reputation by spreading lies about him.

These opponents are from outside synagogues, "freedman" likely descendants of exiled slaves, they seize Stephan and bring him before Jerusalem’s main religious leaders, the Sanhedrin. Again bringing false accusations against him, reporting that he had spoke against the temple, against Jerusalem, and God’s law. Threats against the temple and the law were heretical threats against the very heart of their religious lives. Their claims were not totally false but they did misrepresent the truth, much like was done against Jesus when He was on trial.

Judgment was to come upon the temple and Jerusalem, but not by Jesus of Nazareth but because of their rejection of Him as God’s true representative presence and God’s true fulfillment of the law.

They couldn’t debate Stephan, so His opponents resort to spreading lies about him.

Then they have a staring contest. Of course this is more than a staring contest, but as the pressure mounts within this tense and dramatic scene, Stephen doesn’t blink or shrink back from the pressure. Instead, Stephen reflects the presence of one who has been with God – the face of an angel.

We shouldn’t be surprised either when godly leadership provokes opposition.

Stephen’s godly leadership provokes opposition. He was a leader of the highest spiritual quality, God was powerfully working through him, and he became the lighting rod for controversy. We shouldn’t be surprised either when godly leadership provokes opposition. People won’t like it when you are the only one at work who won’t cheat a little, won’t slack off when the boss isn’t around. Parents, your kids may angrily object as you lay down certain parameters for them. Sometimes the leading in a godly way, requires us to make difficult and unpopular choices-but we should not be surprised that godly leadership provokes opposition.

Stephen is asked if what is said about him is true. He answers by giving a speech, a sort of history lesson for these Jewish religious leaders. Just as his leadership had stirred up opposition, Stephen’s message also provokes persecution-ultimately his death. He recounts God’s work through three of their heroes, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. He traces how God worked in and through them. He downplays the great importance they put on the temple and on the law and instead focuses on how Israel has rejected God’s work again and again.

Stephen begins his reply recounting God’s work through Abraham, as He established his covenant promise to make from Abraham a nation. God called him out from his homeland. He promised Abraham a land and a nation. Read vs. 2-5.

He points out how God in his great glory reached out to Abraham in a foreign land and invited him into a special relationship – promising that his descendants would possess the land. Through Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons God began to set into motion His gracious plan. Read vs.8. God promised Abraham a land and a nation. Stephen describes how God followed through on His promise.

This point of the story leads Stephen to focus on Joseph, recounting how God worked in and through Joseph. Read vs.9-10.

God protects and places Joseph in Egypt.

In our Christian circles that we speak of - ‘divine appointments’. God directly works things out for us to be at the right place at the right time, reaching out to people. If there ever was a divine appointment, it was Joseph. Though his brothers were trying to get rid of him, God protects and places Joseph in Egypt. He is far away from his family, and his homeland, but he is right where God wants him to be, God’s work is not limited to geographical boundaries, God is at work protecting and specifically placing Joseph right where he needs to be in Egypt.

Like much of Stephen’s message, we are familiar with what comes next – a great famine hits the area, Joseph’s family is forced to go to Egypt where Joseph has prepared for the food shortage. The entire clan moves to Egypt and settles there.

Next Moses enters the picture. God is still at work, working on behalf of the children of Abraham. Even though the people become slaves, Stephen recounts God’s work through Moses.Read vs. 17-22.

Just as God had worked with Joseph, God protects and prepares Moses. He is saved from Pharoah’s decree to kill all male Hebrew children, and he is prepared for his future role by becoming part of Pharoah’s household and being educated and trained by the best available teachers.

After he fails to earn the people’s trust when he killed the abusive Egyptian taskmaster, he flees to the desert for 40 years, until God calls him to deliver His people. read vs.33-34.

God delivers Israel through Moses.

While the situation looks bleak, God delivers Israel through Moses.

Have you ever been in a conversation where someone else was trying to clue you in to a certain situation by subtly dropping hints or clues without really coming out and saying it. We do it all the time – trying to make our point without directly making our point.

Stephen is doing this here. For instance, in vs. 35, he mentions how the people had originally rejected Moses. Then in vs.37 he makes reference to Moses’ prediction of Christ…read vs.37. Paying attention to these clues we can see where he is going, referring to their rejection of God’s divine messenger-Jesus the Messiah. He is more direct as He recounts Israel’s response to God’s work.

Read vs.39-43.

Israel rejected God’s deliverer.

They were the ones who dishonored God’s tabernacle and God’s law.

With the presence of God imparting the living words of God to God’s chosen deliverer on Mt. Sinai, what more could they want? It is all at their disposal and they aren’t even in Jerusalem or the temple. Yet they wanted to go back to Egypt. They still seek to worship other gods. Israel rejected God’s deliverer. They were the ones who dishonored God’s tabernacle and God’s law.

It began in the wilderness and continued throughout Israel’s history. They not only rebel against Moses, they disregard the fact that they had God’s tabernacle, his dwelling place among them. They dishonor it by worshipping pagan gods.

Israel misunderstood the significance of the temple.

Stephen moves on to mention the temple, highlighting David’s desire to build it and almost as an afterthought mentioning – it was Solomon who built it. Stephen is clueing us in on his view of the temple – he is subtly making the point that Israel misunderstood the significance of the temple. Stephen is downplaying the importance of the temple. He quotes Isaiah to make his point. Read vs.48-50. Israel misunderstood the significance of the temple. Stephen was not blaspheming God like his accusers claimed. He was downplaying the man-made structure that Israel valued so much.

Israel killed the Messiah they were waiting for.

Now having had to defend himself by recounting Israel’s history, Stephen turns the tables on his accusers, the religious leaders. He charges them with the same rebellion as their ancestors. Read vs. 51-53.

Israel had rejected Moses. Israel dishonored God’s tabernacle and God’s law.

Israel misunderstood the temple’s significance. And now he says, Israel killed the Messiah they were waiting for.

I have some friends, won’t embarrass them by mentioning their names, these friends as they get older annoy themselves. They annoy themselves because the are developing the same habits and mannerisms as their parents. ‘oh I sound just like my mom. Or my dad does that same thing all the time, I am turning into my dad.’ We all have little quirks that get passed on that we aren’t necessarily proud of, don’t ever want to be reminded of it!

Stephen is basically saying – "you are turning into your parents, and grandparents, and great-great-great-great grandparents – you are just like them." "You are stiff-necked just like your ancestors in the wilderness, disobedient and persecuting God’s prophets, His true messengers. And now, when the promised Righteous One – the Messiah, their long-awaited Savior came – you killed him," Israel killed the Messiah they were waiting for.

Now these leaders, the Sanhedrin, didn’t need a history lesson per se. They no doubt knew the stories and accounts. But as Stephen began to turn the tables and accuse them as he did, they became very angry and upset. When Stephen tells them what He is seeing in a vision, it is the straw the breaks the camels back. Stephen is killed by the religious leaders. Read vs. 53-8:1a.

Hearing what He is seeing, convicted and angered and outraged, they plug their ears. A gesture showing they consider him to be speaking blasphemy- they don’t want to hear what he is saying. They take him outside the city and stone him to death.

The author makes a couple interesting notes: he records that the executioners put their coats at the feet of this guy Saul, who then becomes in 8:1 a fervent persecutor of the Church. Mentioned twice, I am pretty sure he becomes a significant figure later on.

Luke also records that Stephen, as he was being killed, echoed the words of Christ when he was on the cross – read vs.59 again.

We shouldn’t be surprised when godly leadership provokes opposition. In a similar sense, we should not be surprised when our message provokes persecution either.

We have an exclusive Message in an inclusive world. Of course our message is not exclusive in the sense that we are the only ones who can have it and everyone else can’t. God doesn’t desire anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. When we point out that Christ is the only way, the only truth, the only life, and no one comes to God except through Him, our world by and large will reject our so-called intolerance.

On the other hand, we should be careful to make sure we are being persecuted for the right message. Christians are known for standing up for a lot of things, many of them good causes, good values, but when our message becomes more about our political views and less about our Savior, we probably deserve any flak we receive. As we proclaim Jesus, we should not be surprised when our message stirs up persecution. It did with Stephen and the early church. Though we may not be stoned, we can and will face opposition even in this comfortable environment that is the USA.

Well the empire struck back. The good guys seemed to gain the upper hand, but then Stephen is killed by the religious leaders and the Church is persecuted and scattered.

Read vs.1b-3.

We shouldn’t be surprised when persecution accomplishes God’s will.

It is hard to put ourselves in their shoes, but I am sure there were a lot of scary, tense, confusing, anxious, and fearful times for the believers. And yet if we take a step back and remember back to the beginning of Acts, Christ predicted that the apostles would be his witnesses in – do you remember? – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Interestingly that’s exactly where these people were scattered to (vs.1). The church had been primarily only around Jerusalem. Now, as they face persecution they are forced to spread out and fulfill God’s will. Though we shouldn’t be surprised when our message stirs up persecution, we also shouldn’t be surprised when persecution accomplishes God’s will.

The difficulties that may come because we live for Jesus have a greater purpose. We may never see the total work God does, but our testimony, our character, our behavior in the face of persecution and difficulty, will speak volumes to those who are watching us. We should not be surprised when persecution accomplishes God’s will.

We covered a lot of ground this evening, and we learned some important truths. We learned we shouldn’t be surprised when godly leadership provokes opposition. Nor should we be surprised when our message provokes persecution. But that persecution has a purpose, and we should not be surprised when persecution accomplishes God’s will.

As we step back and consider all that is going on and the greater context of Acts, I think we can learn one more truth that is central to this whole story: We learn that even when evil seems to be winning, God will build His Church. God raises up this incredible leader within the early church, God does incredible things through him, and yet he is arrested and accused of wrong doing. In the end he is stoned to death, killed barely after His career as a servant of Jesus Christ has even begun.

What a tragedy! The Community of believers, a tight-knit group, they are persecuted themselves and scattered throughout the land. What is going to happen? Whatever else may happen we know that God will build his Church.

In a different sense, today we can look at our country and observe that evil seems to be winning. Morals are decaying. Our nation’s political situation seems hopelessly mixed up. Injustices occur all over the country. It is easy to predict that our country is headed for destruction. But this account of Stephen, this account of the early Church, reminds us, even when evil seems to be winning, God will build His Church. Even when things seem hopeless we can have hope, bc we know God is still at work, he wants to use us. We can have confidence that even when evil seems to be winning, God will build His Church.

So how will this confidence affect our lives this week?

             Will we press on, faithfully living for Jesus?

Will we share with others what God has done, even when we face hostility and opposition?

I don’t know what we will face this week but I know we can confidently face anything because even when evil seems to be winning God will build His Church.