Project 119: Acts 7:1-53

 |  Project 119  |  Tim Sanderlin

Often, we do not say what we truly feel, or what we came to say. Extenuating circumstances and fear can cloud our judgement on communicating what needs to be spoken. This takes hold of me the most when I’m saying something that may not be widely accepted, and I will be the one to take the brunt of the push-back. It’s easy for us to justify slinking back at times to continue on living the way we have been; whether it be a hard discussion with your children, sharing your feelings with your spouse, confronting your boss, or telling a brother or sister in Christ where they are not allowing the gospel to affect their life, we can easily give an explanation for why we did not say what needed to be said. As we look at the stories of believers that lived and died for the name of Jesus Christ, we see that they seldom withdrew from sticky situations, and never ignored speaking the truth in love.

In Acts 7:1-53 we see Stephen, “a man full of God’s grace and power,” being brought before the Sanhedrin Council. Stephen knows what is at stake here, and it is not social discomfort—is the very life that he lives. So we see Stephen walk the members of the Sanhedrin through the story of their Israelite ancestors, starting all the way back with Abraham; from Abraham to the Exodus of Egypt, on to the time of David, Stephen reminds the council of the events they all know so well. Why does he do this? To relate to them? To appeal to them so they will have pity on him? Certainly not. He does this to jog their memory of how, time and time again, the Israelites have not heeded the words of the prophets and have gone their own way.

Stephen, in verses 51-53, does not hold back. He comes to say what the Lord would have him say, forsaking the consequences. Stephen speaks with authority and with abandon. He knows that his life is at stake, but he also recognizes the value of the lives of his audience. If Stephen does not try to warn the men before him of the error of their ways, these lukewarm leaders may never know the full love of Christ. And so, without any restraint, Stephen says what he must.

Lord, may we seek first Your Kingdom, and speak Your truth in love and with Your authority, no matter the cost. Let our lives be transformed by the people in Acts who would stop at nothing to preach Your gospel. Lord, let that be us. Amen.

Acts 7:1-53 (ESV):










