Stephen, An Early Interpreter of Christianity

In ancient Israel, the Sanhedrin made stoning the upper limit on the severity of punishment (people could be put to death by pouring molten lead down the throat of the condemned person, beheading, strangulation, or stoning). Crimes punishable by stoning in ancient Israel included:

1. Touching Mount Sinai while God was giving Moses the 10 Commandments (Ex. 19:13)
2. An ox that gores someone to death should be stoned (Ex. 21:28)
3. Child sacrifice to Molech (Lev. 20:2)
4. Adultery (Lev. 20:10); both parties to be stoned
5. Homosexual practices (Lev. 20:13); both parties are to be stoned
6. Being a wizard (“familiar spirit”) or medium (Lev. 20:27)
7. Cursing or blaspheming God (Lev. 24:10-16, 23)
8. Breaking the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36)
9. Someone who entices another person to commit idolatry (Deut. 13:6-11)
10. Practicing idolatry (Deut. 17:2-5)
11. Rebellion against parents (Deut. 21:18-21)
12. A woman who proclaimed to be a virgin at marriage but wasn’t (Deut. 22:13-21)
13. Sex with a betrothed virgin (Deut. 22:23-24); both parties if the woman did not cry out

A Sanhedrin that put more than one person to death by stoning in a 7-year period was considered “destructive.” Stoning could only be rendered as a judgment if there were two or more trustworthy witnesses and a constituted court of at least twenty-three qualified members. The witnesses must demonstrate that the culprit had been forewarned of the consequences of his crime. The culprit had to be of legal age, sound mind, and committed the crime of his own free will without the aid of others.

Stoning was carried out in the following manner. First, a pit was dug that was twice the height of the person. Then the bottom of the pit was filled with large rocks (later a two-story building with rocks on the ground below was used). The culprit was then pushed (by the hips) by one of the witnesses so that he fell face first onto the large rocks.

The culprit was then turned face up; if he was dead, the sentence had been carried out; if the culprit was still alive, the second witness took a large rock and dropped it on the culprit’s chest. If the culprit was then dead, the sentence would have been carried out. Only if the culprit was still alive did “all of Israel” then stone him with smaller (hand-held) rocks.

Examples of Stoning in the Bible:

• The son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man for cursing God (Lev. 24:10-23)
• A man who gathered wood on the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36)
• Achan after the battle of Jericho for keeping booty from the city (Joshua 7)
• Adoniram, King Rehoboam’s tax man (I Kings 12:18); unlawfully
• Naboth (I Kings 21); unlawfully by King Ahab
• Zechariah ben Jehoida who denounced the people’s disobedience to the commandments (II Chronicles 24:20-21); unlawfully
• Stephen, accused of blasphemy (Acts 6:8-14)
• Paul the apostle at Lystra; left for dead but then revived (Acts 14:19)

In much of the Islamic world today, stoning is still practiced. Today, stoning has largely become a practice against sexual relations by a woman out of wedlock and/or for men practicing homosexuality.

The culprit’s hands are tied behind his back. The culprit is wrapped with three pieces of shroud from head to toe. A hole is dug and the culprit is placed in the hole; a man is buried up to his waist; a woman is buried just below her breasts. The sentencing judge throws the first stone unless there is a witness who then throws the first stone followed by the judge. Then everyone present is to throw a stone until the culprit is declared dead. Stones are to be about the size of baseballs; large enough to damage the culprit but not large enough to kill by one stone alone.

Lesson: Acts 6:1-15; 7:1-60

OK, time to get your Bibles out and turn to Acts 6. Key highlights of these verses are as follows:

1. Acts 6 – V1-7: The Spirit’s actions continue to work and the fledgling Christian community is growing. However, the “Hellenist” members (meaning the Greek Jews and Gentiles) feel they are being slighted in the distribution of food. Therefore the 12 Apostles (the original 11 plus Matthias) select seven largely Greek members to ensure that the food distribution is fair for all (Note the Greek names of Philip, Prochoras, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas). Stephen (“Stephanos” means wreath or crown). The 12 lay their hands on the newly selected elders, much in the same manner as we do today.
2. Acts 6 – V8-15: Stephen, in addition to his duties as an elder, is also preaching the Gospel. The Jews do not like his preaching and say it is blasphemy. While not specifically listed, Saul (Paul) is probably a member of this accusing group.
3. Acts 7 – V1-53: These verses are Stephen’s sermon before the Sanhedrin. Why does he recount all this history? First, he is calming the Sanhedrin down by showing them all the things that they have in common. Second, Stephen is showing that Jesus is the Messiah and the culmination of God’s plan. He is also demonstrating his credentials as a faithful and learned Hebrew scholar. At verse 38, Stephen changes his sermon from the past to the present and from “they and them” to “you.” It is no wonder that the members of the Sanhedrin gnashed their teeth because they had been convicted by Stephen’s words.
4. Acts 7 – V54-60: No blood could be shed on the Temple Mount so they took him outside the city walls to stone him. The witnesses cast the first stones. Note that Saul is not only present but appears to be in charge of the execution. Stephen asks God to forgive them just as Christ had done.

Conclusions

In today’s lesson, the Apostles are faced with two forms of opposition: (1) the internal challenge of feeding gentile widows and (2) opposition from people of the Freedmen's synagogue. To address the first issue, the Apostles choose 7 men to assist the Apostles while they continue to preach the Gospel (this is where we get the practice of Elders). In the second issue, the men of the Freedman’s (Libertines) synagogue accuse Stephen of blasphemy.

Even though Stephen is not an Apostle, he gives the longest speech in the Book of Acts; God uses the speech to (1) challenge the Jewish authorities about misunderstanding their identity and mission, (2) move the church into all Judea and Samaria (via disbursement), and (3) prick the conscience of Saul of Tarsus.

Note the criticisms against Stephen stem from speaking against God and Moses about the Temple and the Law, and against the Jewish customs of the day. Notice how God is associated with one place (Temple). God’s law has become no more than a set of rules and customs.

Stephen stands firm against this hypocrisy which earns him his death (it’s one thing to rub salt into your wounds, it’s another to be billed for the salt). Why does Stephen have to die? Stephen’s death helps to spread the Gospel and without Stephen, there would be no Paul.

Next week we continue studying witnesses who helped spread the Gospel with a lesson titled “Saul of Tarsus: How a Pharisee Became a Christian” and comes from the book of Acts. As our historical background, I will talk about Paul and his ministry.

Have a great week in the Lord and I will see you next week.

Dub.

Prayer

Dear Lord, we give thanks and praise for your faithfulness and for including us in your plan of salvation. Give us the strength, love and patience of Stephen so that we might keep our promises to one another as you have always kept your promises to us. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen.