Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Friday, June 14, 2013 Read – Acts 7:51-8:3 As his speech approaches its conclusion Stephen unloads with both barrels – “You stiff-necked people …” (Acts 7:51). We could see it coming and likely so could the religious authorities. We have noticed that all of the speeches in Acts contain a core message. Stephen’s speech is a bit different. The first part of the core message is spoken – “They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers” (Acts 7:52). The rest of the core message is cut off – the people become so enraged that they attack Stephen dragging him out of the city and stoning him. And while he is being stoned, Stephen sees Jesus at the right hand of God – the place where Jesus now reigns. It is important to notices at this point that in his gospel, Luke edited Mark’s story when Jesus was on trial before the religious authorities. In Mark, when Jesus is asked if he is the Son of the Blessed One (Son of God), Jesus says, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power; and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62). As we noted earlier, Luke tells us that Jesus said, “But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God” and then when the question “Are you the Son of God?” is asked Jesus replies with the ambiguous, “You say that I am” (Luke 22:69-7). Gone from Luke is any mention of Jesus coming with the clouds of heaven. Stephen sees Jesus exactly where Jesus had said he would be. Stephen was not allowed to proclaim that this Jesus whom you crucified, God raised from the dead so that now repentance and forgiveness of sins is made possible through him. Luke’s readers hear the remainder of the core message in the experience of Stephen. Readers of the book of Acts have long noticed that the way in which the death of Stephen is told parallels the way in which the death of Jesus is told. Both are innocent. Both ask God to forgive their murderers. Both commend their spirits into God’s hands. The death of the first martyr reprises the death of the Messiah. As the scene concludes Luke provides his readers with two important pieces of information. First he introduces Saul who not only approved the murder of Stephen but begins a rampage against the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem (Acts 7:58, 8:1, & 8:3). This three-fold reference to Saul is purposefully done by Luke – he does not want his readers to miss it. We will hear more of Saul in the days to come. The second piece of information that Luke provides his reader is that the followers of Jesus were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria because of the persecution that unfolded. Like a stone falling in a body of water the ripples move outward. We may hear this as a tragic and negative event. And perhaps the first followers of Jesus experienced it as such. But in the end this too was the work of the Holy Spirit – “you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria” (Acts 1:8). Only the Apostles remain in Jerusalem – which seems like a rather peculiar thing. Were they not in the most danger? Perhaps, but Luke has other reasons than simply providing historical information in telling us that the Apostles remain in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will remain at the center. The message will radiate out from Jerusalem – and verification from Jerusalem will also be necessary. Historically, it is likely that it was only the Hellenist Greek speaking Christians who suffered persecution at this time. The Hebrew speaking church, represented by the Apostles, likely was spared. This also explains why the Apostles remained in Jerusalem and as the book of Acts moves forward it is also apparent that other Hebrew speaking Christians remained in Jerusalem along with the Apostles.