The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. [Acts 7.54-58]
As by now not deemed unusual for me to note, two things stand out to me today: 1) Stephen looked to heaven and saw... and 2) The Jewish leaders put their hands over their ears...
We should be alerted that seeing and hearing have great meaning regarding the topic of idolatry. In fact, everything Stephen preached to the Jewish leaders (Acts 7.2-53) was simply history they would completely agree with, except for their refusal to accept Jesus. Stephen's message highlighted Israel's idolatry, and then, he associated ancient Israel's sin of idolatry to the current Jewish sin of idolatry!
“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! [Acts 7.51]
Idolatry resists the Holy Spirit, and thereby, God's Word. It happened in Moses' day. It is what happened in Jesus' day. It is what is happening in the Church today. Instead of looking to God alone (and, especially God With Us), God's people have always been bent on trusting in idols.
Idols most always are the product of man's making. Stephen pointed this out:
So they made an idol shaped like a calf... [Acts 7.41a]
Stephen disturbed his audience when he quoted the prophet Amos (in Acts 7.42-43):
“Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, Israel? No, you served your pagan gods—Sakkuth your king god and Kaiwan your star god—the images you made for yourselves. [Amos 5.25-26]
But, Stephen really disturbed his audience when he mentioned the Temple as an idol!
However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that?’ asks the LORD. ‘Could you build me such a resting place? Didn’t my hands make both heaven and earth?’ [Acts 7.48-50]
It was after this accusation that Stephen tied Jesus into the sermon. The Jewish leaders' refusal to look upon and listen to God With Us alone made them just as stubborn as ancient Israel (Acts 7.51).
People think I am off-base or misguided to keep pointing out the sin of idolatry today. This is especially true when I point out that the Church is where this offense is most greatly evident as the Church embraces the idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology instead of God (God With Us) alone. Sadly, Acts 7.51 is just as appropriate a response to all those today who disagree with God's jealous demand that we have no idols but look ONLY to His Son:
“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! [Acts 7.51]
Consequently, the Church today is overwhelmingly unprincipled and powerless. The world neither respects not fears the God of the Church today - why should they?
Seeing and hearing have a role in the story of Stephen as well as a role in our story. And, there is power associated with seeing and hearing God.
Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” [Isaiah 6.10]
Stephen was "all good" at first, even mentioning the gold calf, but, when he got to "the Temple" (something God indeed initially ordained) in his sermon about idolatry, he struck a religious nerve. Just like the snake on a stick ordained by God in the wilderness that later became an idol and was destroyed by righteous king Hezekiah (Numbers 21.8-9 and 2 Kings 18.4), Stephen essentially accused his audience they had done the same thing with the Temple (Acts 7.48-50) thus ignoring Jesus!
Yes, it got him killed.
Father, may my words be so inspired by Your Holy Spirit that people's hearts are turned to Jesus alone - Jesus, Who Himself demanded that we forsake all to follow Him. May we see and hear and understand that all the gifts You gave us (even debt, insurance, medicine and technology) must be scrutinized for the potential of having become idols. May we understand that Your people are a holy people and must take every opportunity to distinguish themselves from the world in principle and practice. May we understand that when we do, all hell will be unleashed against us - but finally, like Stephen, Your glory will shine from our faces!
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