Stephen's Arrest, Death, and Samaria

Stephen's Arrest and Death (Acts 6:8-15, 7:1-60)

Objectives

• At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • List what is known about Stephen.

  • Explain why the freedmen did not like Stephen.

  • Summarize Stephen’s defense.

Vocabulary

• Martyr: A person who dies for his or her beliefs.

• Persecution: To be mistreated for one’s beliefs.

• Freedman: Jews who had been taken prisoner by the Romans, later freed, many forming the Freedmen’s synagogue in Jerusalem.

Stephen’s Character

• One of the Seven Helpers in the early church.

• Filled with the Holy Spirit, demonstrating:

  • Great wisdom

  • Great faith

  • Ability to perform miracles.

Stephen’s Opposition

• The Synagogue of Freedmen opposed Stephen:

  • Arrested him and delivered him to the Sanhedrin Council for judgment on religious matters.

The Trial

• Charges against Stephen included:

  • Speaking against the Law of Moses, claiming it was no longer necessary.

  • Speaking against the sacred temple, suggesting that Jesus would change its customs, which threatened the Jewish belief in God's presence.

• Despite accusations, Stephen remained calm; his face shone like that of an angel.

Stephen’s Speech

• Key points made in his defense:

  • Acknowledged the killing of Jesus, the Messiah.

  • Declared that God does not dwell in physical temples.

  • Accused the council of not keeping the law and resisting the Holy Spirit.

  • Reminded them that their ancestors rejected God’s prophets.

  • Overviewed the history of the Jews showing God's salvation plan through Jesus.

Persecution

• Council's Reaction:

  • Furious at Stephen’s defense, they covered their ears and shouted over him.

  • Stoned him for blasphemy, a charge stemming from his claim of seeing Jesus at God’s right hand.

  • Caiaphas, the High Priest, presided over the trial.

  • Saul consented to Stephen's execution, holding the cloaks of those stoning him.

• Significance: Stephen became the first Christian martyr.

Comparisons to Jesus

• Similarities between Stephen and Jesus:

  • False accusations from jealous leaders.

  • Charges of speaking against the sacred temple and blasphemy.

  • Committed his spirit to God before death.

  • Prayed for the forgiveness of his murderers.

Samaritans

Objectives

• At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • State who the Samaritans were.

  • Describe Stephen’s visit to Samaria.

  • Differentiate why Peter and John laid hands on the Samaritans.

Definitions

• Evangelism: Sharing the Gospel with others.

• Simony: Attempting to buy a leadership position in the church.

• Persecute: Subjecting someone to hostility and ill-treatment, especially due to their beliefs.

• Rebuke: To sharply correct someone.

Saul Persecutes the Church

• Following Stephen's death, the church in Jerusalem faced severe persecution:

  • Believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

  • Saul actively sought to destroy the church, imprisoning both men and women.

Reasons for Church Persecution

• Pharisees felt obligated to uphold the laws of God:

  • Believed followers of Jesus were against Jewish laws.

  • Actively tried to suppress the new movement.

Philip’s Mission to Samaria

• Evangelism: Philip traveled to Samaria to share the Good News of Jesus with the Samaritans:

  • Included them in the message of salvation, emphasizing that Jesus died for all.

Identity of the Samaritans

• A mixed group, descended from intermarriages between Jews and various local Gentiles (Philistines, Edomites, Syrians, Moabites).

Jewish Dislike for Samaritans

• Reasons for Jewish disdain include:

  • Perceived impurity due to mixed heritage.

  • Building their own temple and practicing a different form of Judaism.

  • Claiming to be true descendants of Abraham.

Who Was Simon?

• Encountered by Peter during Philip’s evangelism:

  • Attempted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit.

  • Peter rebuked Simon strongly for these intentions:

  • "May you and your money go to hell!"

  • Peter advised him to repent and seek God’s forgiveness.

  • Simon requested that Peter and John pray for him.

Simon’s Mistake

• Misunderstood the Holy Spirit's nature:

  • Believed apostles could control the Holy Spirit, not grasping it as God's gift.

  • Desired church leadership for control over members.

  • Attempted to purchase spiritual power.