— Acts of the Apostles — BIG IDEA Jesus’s witnesses experienced him as the Messiah who came to replace God’s presence in the temple and fulfill his demands in the law. Stephen’s ministry provoked fierce . Acts 6:13–15 (NLT) 13 The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. 14 We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s. How does Stephen defend against the religious accusations? He confronts them for getting stuck on their sacred & their sacred building. Acts 7:37 (NLT) 37 “Moses himself told the people of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people.’ Jesus is our true & better who leads us out of death by fulfilling God’s demands in our place. Matthew 5:17 (NLT) “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. Acts 7:48 (NLT) 48 However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. Jesus is our true & better who’s presence among his church replaces God’s presence in a building. John 2:21 (NLT) But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. He harshly religious traditionalists who resist the Holy Spirit by minimizing Jesus. Acts 7:51-53 (NLT) “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.” Spirit-filled believers accept that Jesus the Messiah had come to replace the temple & fulfill the law, both of which drew & directed God’s people to him. “Anything & everything that God is doing is intended to lead you to Jesus.” “Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.” ~ Timothy Keller In his death as a disciple, Stephen… will be Jesus. Acts 7:55-56 (NLT) 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” was Jesus. Acts 7:59 (NLT) 59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. Luke 23:46 (NLT) Acts 7:60 (NLT) 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 (NLT) WHAT NOW? 1. Don’t miss or minimize Jesus by protecting your sacred leaders or buildings. 2. Expect hostile resistance from religious political leaders who enforce their rules & protocols to protect their power. 3. Overcome the fear of death by believing that persecution & death for Jesus can only end this life — but it begins our eternal life with Jesus. 4. Keep refocusing yourself on following Jesus rather than following more religious rules. CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION 1. Have you ever come across powerful religious people who seemed willing to “fight to the death” over following their sacred rules & protecting their sacred buildings? 2. What part of the persecution & martydom of Stephen struck you most? 3. Which of these WHAT NOW’s might you need the most? a. Overcome the fear of death by believing that persecution & death for Jesus can only end this life — but it begins our eternal life with Jesus. b.Keep refocusing yourself on following Jesus rather than following more religious rules.