Dig Site 4Dig Site 4Acts 6:1-15 & 7:51-8:3Acts 6:1-15 & 7:51-8:3

In those days when the number of disciples In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.daily distribution of food.

widow – woman whose husband died

Grecian Grecian JewsJews - - speak speak mainly Greek, used mainly Greek, used to live outside of to live outside of Judea and Galilee Judea and Galilee but settled in but settled in JerusalemJerusalem- consider how - consider how immigrants are immigrants are sometimes treatedsometimes treated

Hebraic JewsHebraic Jews - - speak mainly Aramaic and speak mainly Aramaic and were born in Jerusalem or Judeawere born in Jerusalem or Judea

- think of native people- think of native people

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together.together.

We need to We need to keep preaching keep preaching and teaching and teaching the word of the word of God, not wait God, not wait on tables.on tables.

Brothers, choose seven men from Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our to them and will give our attention to prayer and the attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.ministry of the word.

This proposal pleased the whole This proposal pleased the whole group. They presented these men to group. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on themtheir hands on them..

Great idea!

The Seven Chosen:

Stephen, a man full of faith and of thetephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

PhilipPhilip

ProcorusProcorus

NicanorNicanor

TimonTimon

ParmenasParmenas

Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to JudaismJudaism

So the word of God spread. The So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient number of priests became obedient to the faith.to the faith.

Now Stephen, a Now Stephen, a man full of God’s man full of God’s grace and power, grace and power, did great wonders did great wonders and miraculous and miraculous signs among the signs among the people.people.

Cilicia

Opposition Opposition arose, however, arose, however, from members of from members of the Synagogue the Synagogue of the Freedmen of the Freedmen (as it was called)(as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene —Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria and Alexandria as well as the as well as the provinces of provinces of Cilicia and Asia.Cilicia and Asia.

These men began to argue with Stephen, but These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. Then they the Spirit by whom he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak words of have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”blasphemy against Moses and against God.”

We believe that God is holy, perfect, We believe that God is holy, perfect, all-knowing, and all-powerful.all-knowing, and all-powerful.

blasphemyblasphemy – saying that this isn’t true – saying that this isn’t true or that someone else is these thingsor that someone else is these things

So they So they stirred up stirred up the people the people and the and the elders and elders and the teachers the teachers of the law. of the law. They seized They seized Stephen and Stephen and brought him brought him before the before the Sanhedrin.Sanhedrin.

They They produced produced

false false witnesses, witnesses,

who testified who testified against against

Stephen.Stephen.

We have heard him We have heard him say that this Jesus say that this Jesus of Nazareth will of Nazareth will destroy this place destroy this place and change the and change the customs Moses customs Moses

handed down to us.handed down to us.

This fellow This fellow never stops never stops

speaking against speaking against this holy place this holy place and against the and against the

law.law.

All who were sitting in All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, intently at Stephen, and they saw that his and they saw that his face was like the face face was like the face of an angel. of an angel.

Stephen Stephen

respondedresponded..

You stiff-necked people, with You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him — have betrayed and murdered him — you who have received the law that you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.but have not obeyed it.

When they heard this, they were When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth furious and gnashed their teeth at him.at him.

But Stephen, But Stephen, full of the Holy full of the Holy Spirit, looked Spirit, looked up to heaven up to heaven and saw the and saw the glory of God, glory of God, and Jesus and Jesus standing at the standing at the right hand of right hand of God.God.

“ “Look,” he Look,” he said, “I see said, “I see heaven open heaven open and the Son and the Son of Man of Man standing at standing at the right hand the right hand of God.”of God.”

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.to stone him.

Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.at the feet of a young man named Saul.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed.* While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed.* Then he fell on his knees and cried out.* When he Then he fell on his knees and cried out.* When he had said this, he fell asleep. had said this, he fell asleep.

And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.

Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. receive my spirit.

Lord, do not hold this Lord, do not hold this sin against them.sin against them.

On that day a great persecution broke out On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.Judea and Samaria.

Godly men buried Stephen and mourned Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.deeply for him.

But Saul began to destroy the church. Going But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.and women and put them in prison.