Acts

Bible Study

Lesson 15

 

Acts 7:54—60

¥ With God pointing His condemning finger squarely at the leadership of Israel the leadership once again kills another prophet.

¥ Notice Stephen was able to see into heaven and view the throne room of God with Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

- This exact phrase is used in Acts 1:11 with the Apostles standing looking up into the heaven (eis ton ouranon).

- This seems to indicate the Disciples were able to look into the throne room of God as Jesus took His place sitting at the right hand of God.

- Is it any wonder that they continued to peer into heaven as Jesus rose to be with the Father?

¥ Stephen then describes what he is seeing to his accusers that sealed their charge of blasphemy against him.

- He was forced outside the city and stoned.

- The rulers probably used the Mosaic Law as their right to stone Stephen, however, they were clearly breaking the Mosaic Law by lying (6:11) and murder (8:58). Leviticus 24:10—16  

¥ As they are stoning Stephen, we see Saul come on the scene giving approval to all that is happening.

 

Jesus standing

¥ This section shows Jesus standing.

¥ Many see this as Jesus standing up to welcome Stephen into heaven.

- Unfortunately, there is no basis in the Bible to substantiate this view.

- The only reason people like this is because it give us warm, fuzzy feeling to think of Jesus standing and welcoming us into heaven.

- Since Jesus is shown standing BEFORE Stephen is going to be stoned it seems strange that Jesus is seen standing to welcome him into heaven. It was this vision that caused Stephen to be stoned. If Jesus were welcoming him, it would make more sense to see Him standing as Stephen is being stoned.

¥ Throughout Scripture, when Jesus stands it is to pour out judgment.

- We know that when Jesus ascended into heaven He sat down at the right hand of God.

Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

- We also know that there will come a time when Jesus Christ will overcome all His enemies.

Psalms 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

Psalms 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries,

And arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment.

Psalms 9:19 Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You.

- We see Jesus Christ standing in Revelation just before judgment is poured out on the earth.

Revelation 7:6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

¥ I believe Jesus Christ was standing in reaction to IsraelÕs final rejection. The next step on the prophetic timeline is the tribulation. Jesus Christ was standing in preparation of subduing His enemies.

¥ After the earth is purged of His enemies, HeÕll be ready to come down and take His rightful throne in the Millennial Kingdom.

 

Acts 8:1—3

¥ StephenÕs death was a turning point for Israel.

- This appears to be the final chance for Israel to accept Jesus Christ as her Messiah.

- They rejected the Father by following other gods in the Old Testament and finally concluding in the death of John the Baptizer as they stood by and watched.

- They rejected the Son when they demanded His death the cross.

- Now the rejection of the Holy Spirit concludes in their stoning of Stephen.

¥ These events tie in to a couple of parables in the Gospels.

Luke 19:12—14 12So He said, "A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.  13"And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, 'Do business with this until I come back.'  14"But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'

- Jesus went to a distant country (heaven) to receive the authority to rule in the Millennial Kingdom. Those He was to rule over sent a message that we do not want you as our King. This message was in the form of StephenÕs death.

Luke 13:6—9 6And He began telling this parable: "A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.  7"And he said to the vineyard-keeper, 'Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?'  8"And he answered and said to him, 'Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;  9and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'"

- This parable relates to JesusÕ three years of ministry with Israel. Since there was no fruit being produced, it was time to cut her off from the promised blessings. However, one more year was given to work with Israel to see if she would start producing fruit.

- This parable gives strong evidence that the death of Stephen was that point in time when God cut Israel off from the possibility of entering into the Millennial Kingdom. StephenÕ death occurred approximately one year after Jesus was crucified.

 

¥ The fall (tripping) of Israel was an event that came with the stoning of Stephen. The casting away (rejection or literally, diminishing) of Israel took another 30 years to complete.

Romans 11:11—12 11I say then, they did not stumble (to trip—happened at the stoning of Stephen) so as to fall (come to an end), did they? May it never be! But by their transgression (falling by the wayside) salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12Now if their transgression (wrongdoing) is riches for the world and their failure (becoming inferior) is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment (enrichment) be!

Romans 11:15 For if their rejection (casting away, diminishing) is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

¥ When Israel tripped, the door to the Millennial Kingdom closes. There is now no chance for Israel to repent and go into the promised Kingdom.

¥ It took the next 30 years for God to completely put Israel aside and focus completely on the Church, the Body of Christ.

- This is what Acts is all about. The transition is all about God stopping His dealings with Israel and the Church, the Body of Christ coming into full maturity.

- A transition is not an event but a process. He fall of Israel was an event and therefore cannot be called transition.

- This process was that of God slowly turning away from His dealing distinctively with Israel until by the end of Acts, IsraelÕs program has come to an end.

¥ It was with this event with Stephen that God put aside the Prophetic program and will soon announce a new program through Paul.

 

 

Originally taught at Bethesda Sunday School January 25, 2009

For previous notes and additional mid-Acts materials please visit http://www.MidActsTruths.com