Title: Scattered Date: 9.7.2014 Series: The Acts Series Text: Acts 7:54 – 8:4 Synopsis: It’s hard to know exactly what happened at Stephen’s trial and execution. He spoke with great courage and conviction. His words enraged the Sanhedrin and those witnessing the trial. They covered their ears and yelled as if keep anymore of his provocative words from entering their minds. They drug him out of the city and killed him by hurling stones at him until he died. It certainly does not seem to be a Roman execution. Death by lapidation was not the typical method for meting out a death penalty in Rome. Further there is no mention of any Roman authority present. Neither does it seem to be a Jewish execution. There is no pronouncement of guilt. In fact, it’s not completely clear if Stephen actually finished his defensive statements. Further, according to the Midrash, the guilty party would be stripped and then stoned. In Stephen’s case, his executioners strip before stoning him. One final consideration is that godly men buried him and deeply mourned his death, which would be forbidden according to Jewish law. What appears to have happened is that Stephen’s words so provoke the Sanhedrin and those witnessing the proceedings that mob justice prevails and they lynch Stephen. The violent act sets off a response from the Jewish leaders to rid themselves of the church. Led by a young man named Saul, house-to-house persecution results in men and women begin drug off to prison. But the church is not destroyed. In fact, Luke states that they are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. He uses an interesting Greek word that carries with it an agricultural context meaning to “sow throughout.” In other words, the church was not arbitrarily scattered by Jewish oppression, but rather “sown throughout” by the hand of God. This has always been God’s plan for his people. He told Adam to replenish the earth. He reiterated it to Noah. He scattered the people at Babel. Israel was to be a light to the nations. You can sense the frustration in Jesus’ words when he reminds his culture that they were supposed to be the salt of the earth, but they’ve lost their purpose. They were supposed to be the light of the world but they’ve hidden their light. So Jesus himself fulfills God’s purpose for mankind. He became the Light of the world to bring light to the darkness. He came down from heaven that he might fill the universe with his presence and power (Eph 4:10). He fills the heart of every believer with his Spirit and sows us into the world to be his image bearers to the world. Like believers 2,000 years ago, we are to be scattered. Are you? youtu.be/Gl9QHSS8isI
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 18:06:52 +0000
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