Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death. And on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. ² Some devout men buried Stephen, and ^[a]mourned greatly over him [expressing a personal sense of loss]. ³ But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison (Acts 8:1-3 AMP).

Prior to this moment, the only ones persecuted by the Jewish leaders were the apostles.  Yet the priestly council within the Jerusalem temple had determined to not make them martyrs.  Instead, they would beat them, warn them, put them in prison, from which they would escape.    But, for fear of the people, they in some ways tolerated them.  Gamaliel, a well-respected Pharisee is recorded saying, “Give them some space.  If this is not of God, it will die. However, if God be in it, no one can stop it” (paraphrase of Acts 6:34,39).

Then, Stephen began to reach out to the temples of the Jewish people visiting Jerusalem from far and wide.  He was so well versed in Old Testament doctrine and an extraordinary speaker.  A truly gifted apologetic speaker, the greatest scholars including Saul could not “resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” (Acts 6:10).  In other words, they could not win the debate.  Therefore, they killed him.  Satan launched a relentless persecution of the church using Saul.  He must have believed in doing so he would squelch the church.

Relentless Persecution

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Stephen had been going about the synagogues teaching the truth of the gospel. His message so powerfully presented that the greatest Old Testament Scholars of his time were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake (Acts 6:10).  So, when they could not win the debate, they hired people to slander him (much like what continues in our day).  Therefore, they brought Stephen before the council.  They accused him of blaspheming against God, Moses, the law and the temple.  Stephen, like a skillful lawyer might, then spoke in his own defense.  As he did, he spoke one of the greatest apologetic sermons ever.  His task was to answer the four charges, to keep their attention, to indict them on their sin, and to present Christ as the Messiah.  Standing before a hostile crowd, not an easy task.

Yet, as they accused him, all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel (Acts 6:15).  The Holy Spirit filled Stephen’s heart and mind as he began to speak, guiding his words.  Certainly, Stephen could not be the amazing defender of the gospel if he had never studied the scripture.  He did rely on the Spirit to “bring to remembrance” (John 14:26); however, this did not negate the truth of his diligence in studying the scripture.  We must be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (I Peter 3:15).

One of the Greatest Sermons

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Enter the stage Stephen.  His ministry as a Christian was very short indeed.  However, God so used Stephen as to rocket launch the gospel message into the whole world.  There within Stephen were 7 Characteristics which God used in a mighty way.  Although, there is no record that anyone came forward or accepted Christ during the sermons of Stephen.  However, his impact on the church is undoubtedly one of the most profound.  What were these characteristics? 1) He was filled with the Holy Spirit. 2) He was filled with wisdom. 3) Full of Faith.  4) He was full of Grace. 5) Power-filled 6) Courageous 7) Glory-filled.  What was it that Stephen did and how did he change the world in such a short time? Even though he never had the number of converts attributed directly to him, his was a story of triumph that each of us should learn from.

Stephen most likely was one of the early converts.  We are not told exactly when he came to accept Jesus Christ as Lord; but it is assumed it was around the time of Pentecost. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, Stephen then boldly went to the Sanctuaries of the Jews who came to Jerusalem from gentile nations.  He took the message of the gospel directly to them, in their houses of worship.  Stephen was a Greek name, indicating that he was himself such a Jew.  Many of the Jews of that day lived in various gentile nations.  Yet, they came to Jerusalem for special “feast days” to worship God.  Hence, when the crowds were so large at the temple, they had their own sanctuaries where their language was spoken.  They would gather there to learn of God and to debate the scriptures.

Stephen’s Ministry

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Throughout Biblical History, God has commissioned His people to care for the stranger, the widow and the fatherless.  He has declared Himself to be A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows (Psalms 68:5, NKJV).  Throughout the law, this was evident.  It was also evident in the words of the prophets when pronouncing judgement against Israel for having forsaken their duties.  As the early church exploded in numbers, including people who came to Jerusalem for the feast of harvests from many parts of the worlds, there was a necessity to provide for those who remained.  They remained because the first church needed to bathe in the gospel truth before going out to teach others.  Ah, but the massive crowds included the widow and the fatherless; therefore, came a social outcry amongst the early church as to how they were being provided for.

What lead to so many widows to be included in the early church? Deuteronomy 16:9-15 lays forth the regulations concerning the feast of the weeks or feast of the Harvest which occurred on the 50^th day after the Day of First Fruits which occurred the day after the Passover.  All from far and wide were to come to “God’s appointed place” to bring the harvest.  At this feast they were to bring strangers, widows, and the fatherless with them.  Therefore, on the day of Pentecost when so many were saved, these were among those in the crowd and among those saved.  The initial church in Jerusalem had many obstacles to overcome beyond that of the Jewish leaders.  Such rapid growth to above 20,000 presented many logistical problems as well concerning housing and feeding the crowds who were displaced from their homes.

Social Outcry

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God, through the Holy Spirit gave special gifts of healing to the Apostles.  The initial church in Jerusalem grew rapidly.  Nowhere was there space to meet with such large crowds except within the courtyards of the temple, precisely Solomon’s Porch.  Here is where all the crowds of people met to listen to Peter preach.  Oh, yes!  Peter was warned to never speak the name of Jesus again.  Yet, his voice could not be stopped.  Even if it meant his death, he was not willing to go speechless.  His fear had caused him to deny His Lord once upon a time.  Never again!  For this same Jesus who died on the cross, rose from the grave, forgave him and commissioned him to preach the gospel.  Nothing and no one can stop the spread of the gospel because it is of God. Neither can anything Thwart God’s Plan.

Whatever the personal cost, Peter knew he must continue to speak God’s word to the people, crying out for them to repent and be saved.  Furthermore, he knew that this must be done in the power of the Holy Spirit and not his own power.  Afterall, he experienced defeat before when trying to stand for Jesus in his own strength.  Nothing and no one can stop the growth of the church when it be of God.  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).  Peter’s task: obey God and leave the consequences to Him.

No One Can Stop It

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