Week 4, Day 2

Today’s Reading:  Acts 9-10

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

In Acts chapter 7, we see Stephen’s defense, delivered before the Jewish council.  He was brought before them in chapter 6, accused of speaking against the holy place, and the Law.  Stephen could have spent the time trying to defend himself personally, but instead he gave a defense of the Gospel!  In the giving of this defense, Stephen gave the council enough information to teach them what they had to do to be pleasing to  God.

One thing that is interesting to note in this chapter is where Stephen started this defense.  He went back to the time of Abraham, and worked his way through the history of the Old Testament, laying out the prophecies that pointed to the Messiah.  In doing that, he was showing that Christ was indeed the Messiah of prophecy, and that He was the one that these Jews should have been listening to.  Stephen was able to do this because these people knew the prophecies, they knew the Old Testament characters that he was discussing.  As we continue through the book of Acts, we will see the evangelists start at different places.  To the Gentiles, who were unfamiliar with these prophecies and characters, the logical method that Stephen used here would be far less effective.  These things would have meant less to them, than it did to these Jews.

What we learn from this is that we have to start teaching a person wherever they are.  If a person already believes that the Bible is the word of God, then we don’t have to spend time proving that before teaching the gospel message.  But, if we are starting to teach a person who is an athiest, or an agnostic, then we have to start by supplying enough evidence to support the very existence of God before it will be beneficial to try and teach the gospel message.  There is no “one way” to teach the gospel to a person.  That is not to say that there is more than one gospel.  The gospel message is the same, but how we approach a person, and at what point we actually start with a person may change.

At the end of chapter 7, we also see the reaction to Stephen’s sermon.  In chapter 2, we saw a group of people who were “cut to the heart” by the gospel message, and they obeyed, putting on Christ in baptism.  In this chapter, the result was not they same.  They were still “cut to the heart” by the gospel message, but instead of being obedient, they turned on the messenger.  They attacked Stephen, and stoned him to death.  In each of these cases, the gospel accomplished its purpose.  It convicted the hearts of the hearers.  Even today, the gospel will accomplish the same thing.  When presented, the gospel will make a person examine themselves, and either accept or reject the message.

Unfortunately, Stephen lost his life in this instance.  But, he was willing to bravely, and forcefully teach the truth to those assembled before him.  He could have toned down the message so that they would not be so unhappy with him, but instead, he continued on, knowing that his safety, if not his life were in danger.  How often do we back down from teaching the truth just because we might lose a friend?  This makes our fears seem a bit insignificant!

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