by Mike Benson

This would be his very last sermon. In a short time, Stephen's preaching career would come to an abrupt end -- as would his life. The Sanhedrin had heard all that it could stand. Its members found Stephen's message so offensive that they brutally murdered him. The "sword of the Spirit" (cf. Hebrews 4:12) had laid their hearts asunder (Acts 7:54), and in a frenzy of raw emotion the group forced the preacher outside of the city walls and then stoned him to death (Acts 7:60). J.W. McGarvey concludes this sad occasion by noting, "This was a strange way for a court to break up; the whole body of seventy grave rabbis, whose official duty it was to watch for the faithful execution of the law, leaving their seats and rushing in a wild mob, amid hideous outcries, to the sudden execution of a prisoner uncondemned and untried."1/

One particular element of this tragic story is especially compelling. Stephen was literally on the threshold of eternity. His death was imminent. During those last desperate moments of his life, inspiration records that the veil of heaven was somehow opened before him and that he was permitted a glimpse into the court of heaven. "But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, 'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!'" (Acts 7:55). A few observations on his passage are in order:

1. Note the Lord's POSITION. He was standing. Typically, Jesus is portrayed in Scripture as sitting (cf. Psalm 110:1; Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3) on heaven's throne. But in this passage, the Lord is fixed in an erect posture. Even though Stephen was about to "cross over Jordan," he was sustained by the image of the risen Lord standing -- as a witness, on his own behalf. "Stephen had been confessing Christ before men, and now he sees Christ confessing His servant before God. The proper posture for a witness is the standing posture. Stephen, condemned by an earthly court, appeals for vindication to a heavenly court, and his vindicator in that supreme court is Jesus, who stands at God's right hand as Stephen's advocate..."2/

2. Note the Lord's PROXIMITY. He was "at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56; cf. 5:31; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2). The phrase suggests an exalted position of honor, power and majesty. "Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him" (1 Peter 3:22). Despite the fact that his servant lay dying, Jesus exercised his sovereign rule over this affair. He allowed Stephen to die a martyr's death in order to finally qualify him for the kingdom of heaven. And he allowed the hypocritical Sanhedrin a temporary triumph, but his righteous judgment would fall upon them in the end (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Romans 12:19).

Believers today can find great comfort in these sublime truths: a) Jesus is not passively unconcerned when we are dying. On the contrary, he metaphorically "rises to his feet" in silent testimony to our offerings of life-long devotion (cf. Romans 12:1,2) to him, and b) from his lofty place "at the right hand of God," the Lord is not only mindful of our suffering and distress, but he promises to render justice on those who have persecuted us (cf. Psalm 98:9; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:5-8; Revelation 16:7). And while we find no delight in the pain which our foes will experience, their punishment will mean our vindication and also demonstrate our identity as sons of God (cf. Galatians 3:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:4,5).

1/ J. W. McGarvey, "Stephen is Stoned, and the Church is Dispersed," New Commentary on Acts of the Apostles, p. 132. Cf. Leviticus 24:14; Numbers 15:32-36

2/F. F. Bruce, "Stephen's Defense," Commentary on the Book of Acts," p. 168

by Stan Mitchell

One of my elders used this familiar phrase Sunday -- you know the one. "Preacher, you quit preachin' and gone to meddlin'." It's a sad day when preaching meddles in our marriages, meddles in our work ethics, meddles in our use of money. Of course that elder was kidding. But I like the phrase because it says something important. There is an idea out there, not quite said but believed nonetheless, that preaching isn't supposed to actually demand lifestyle changes, commitment, or repentance.

It's not supposed to suggest that some actions are morally wrong, or that if there are true teachings there must be false teachings, too. It's not supposed to proclaim that there is a right way and a wrong way, or worse, that there is just one way, one truth, and one life (John 14:6). That's so exclusive! We need to include all kinds of lifestyles! "Talk about theology, or esoteric subjects like how many angels can stand on the head of a pin. But don't talk about the sin within the audience. Demand change in worship, but don't demand change in hearts. Criticize the church of Christ, but don't criticize the sin in the lives of those who hear. Point out hypocrisy in church leaders, but don't point it out in us!"

"Heaven has only one sermon -- repentance," says Charles Hodge, "Sinners cannot return to God with their sins. The good news begins with bad news! Peter's first command on Pentecost was 'repent' (Acts 2:38)." (Gospel Advocate, October, 2002).

Sometimes a sermon's intent is to inspire; sometimes its intent is to motivate; sometimes its intent is to comfort. And sometimes, beloved, its intent is to bring about repentance.

"In those days, John the Baptist came, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, 'Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is near!'" (Matthew 3:1,2). So in a word, if it isn't meddling, it isn't preaching!

by Barry Newton

Tis the season for scary movies to fill the box office marquees. Looking for a good fright? Unless our spiritual compasses are completely out of whack, Jesus can be downright disturbing. Unlike a movie whose situation you can escape by closing your eyes, pretending Jesus' words are not real does not make his haunting questions go away. Perhaps the best way to introduce one of his questions would be a story about some canoes.

"The Canoe Fleet"

The current had been smooth and lazy as a fleet of canoes glided further down the river. With skill the various teams dipped their oars into the water propelling them further out into the main current. The spirit of those in the canoes could not have been higher as they measured their success through the distance they had covered and how they were competitively faring with each other.

From a distant bank the voice of a single man faintly rose above the sound of the oars slicing into the river. "Stop!" His attempts to halt the river festival were futile as the canoe crews' optimism and enthusiasm mutually reinforced one another.

Slowly the tree-lined banks of the river gave way to sheer rock cliffs. Around the next broad bend in the river they sailed faster and faster as the river now commandingly pulled them forward. Suddenly, the flotilla's advance was greeted by a deafening roar. Their eyes widened and panic cascaded through the boats as each beheld the river disappearing into a giant cloud of white mist. Their strongest desire to wake up and escape the nightmare achieved nothing. Closer they were drawn to the massive edge. In the final moments their inner agony only deepened as they recalled the lone voice. Grown men cried out in frustration and terror until their voices fell silent.

Before we consider Jesus' very simple question, consider how hard it would be to leave the security of your crowd who is clamoring "everything is OK" in order to join a lonely voice headed in a different direction. As you ponder his question below, does not the Master Teacher in just a few words describe the entrapment of a fatal anesthetized self-induced blindness? His question becomes even more poignant if we look beyond his literal message to grasp a general principle. Has Jesus not cast doubt upon the ability of any culture or fellowship to achieve proper goals if it honors its own inbreeding of religious ideas rather than pursuing God's approval? Ready for the question?

"How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another and do not seek to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44).