Acts 7:1-60 - Homiletics

The first martyrdom.

When we look at the Lord Jesus as our Exemplar, though we are conscious that all his excellences of life and character were strictly human, and within the range of those human faculties which we possess in common with our Lord, yet are we also conscious that the transcendent perfection of his human life is what we can never reach. Our Lord's goodness was the goodness of man, and yet it is a goodness that we never can attain to. Where his feet stood firm, our feet will slip. Where his love triumphed, ours breaks down. Where his will moved on undaunted in obedience to his Father's will, ours faints and halts and stumbles to its fall. The temptations that he crushed, crush us; where his spirit was clear as sunlight, ours is clouded and mixed. Where he soars in glory, we are heavy with sleep; and where he wrestles in an agony of prayer, we fall asleep for sorrow. His courage, his faith, his humility, his meekness, his constancy, his patience, his firmness, his love, his zeal, his self-consecration to God, his loving obedience, his transparent truth and purity,—we see them, we look upon them with adoring wonder, but when we try to imitate them, it is like trying to climb up to the stars; do what we will they are at an immeasurable distance above us, inaccessible and unapproachable. It is, therefore, a great help and encouragement to us that, besides the infinite perfection of Christ's human nature, we have other examples of saintly men set before us in the Word of God, which we may hope to follow more closely, treading even in their very steps. The apostle, the evangelist, the martyr, the holy woman, the faithful disciple, all stand out before us on the pages of Scripture, and we ask ourselves why should not we be like them, seeing we have the same Holy Spirit which dwelt in them to sanctify us also. The chapter before us invites us to study the character of a true martyr, as exemplified in St. Stephen. The model martyr thus is—

I. A WISE MAN AND ONE OF GOOD REPORT . Not an empty fanatic catching up every folly that is started, and carried away by every blast of doctrine; but a man of solid and approved wisdom, discerning things that differ, holding fast that which is good, and rejecting the pernicious error though it be the fashion of the day; one whose steady and quiet walk in the paths of godliness has earned him a good report among his neighbors. He is well spoken of because he does good quietly, and seeks not the praise of men. He is of good report because he is never hurried, into ill-advised action under the influences of temper or self-will, or the contagion of example, or any corrupt or selfish motive, but is known constantly to do the thing that is right.

II. HE IS ALSO A MAN OF HIGH SPIRITUAL ATTAINMENT . He is not only wise and upright in all his dealings with men, has not only wisdom and discretion in the affairs of this life, but, being filled with the Holy Spirit of God, he has all spiritual wisdom likewise. His enlightened reason and his elevated affections soar above the world, and are deeply engaged in the things of God and the affairs of the kingdom of Christ. lie lives a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved him and gave himself for him.

III. HIS MARTYR 'S SPIRIT DOES NOT ALLOW HIM TO LEAD A LIFE OF EASE AND INDOLENCE . He is ready at the call of the Church to undertake any office or work, however burdensome or responsible, for the good of the whole body and the comfort of the brethren. He does not seek dignity, or emolument, or the praise of men, as the price of his labor, but simply gives himself as Christ's servant to work for Christ and for Christ's people. Impartial, fair, equal, and kind in his administration, he soothes irritation, allays jealousy, and promotes peace and love.

IV. HIS SPIRIT KINDLES WITH HIS WORK . Being placed on a higher platform, he sees more of the spiritual wants of men around him. Having received higher gifts, he looks for wider opportunities of exercising them. Every soul won to Christ is as fuel to the flame of his love. Every victory over Satan stirs him up to war more resolutely as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Failures do not daunt him, and success cheers him on. Nothing seems impossible with Christ on his side. Everything must be attempted which may snatch the prey from the destroyer and enlarge the kingdom of light.

V. BUT SOON THE RISING OPPOSITION OF THE ADVERSARIES OF CHRIST BARS HIS ONWARD PROGRESS . The wisdom of the world crosses swords with the wisdom of the spirit. Formalism, Pharisaism, priestcraft, superstition, self-righteousness, self-importance, ignorance, combine to resist the gracious teaching which would strip men of selfishness to clothe them with Christ. At first it is argument against argument and reasoning against reasoning. But when the sword of the Spirit begins to cut through the shield of carnal disputation, and the sword of the worldly logic becomes blunted against the martyr's shield, and the Word of truth becomes too strong for the lying lips to answer, then begins a new form of contest. The defeated disputant throws aside his reasonings and his cavillings, and takes up the weapons of force and fraud. Prison and rack, fire and faggot, the wild beast and the sword, shall answer the arguments which were too strong for the reasoner. And how then will the martyr act? Will he be silenced and dismayed, or will he stand to his truth and die? He gathers up his courage, he looks up to God, he confronts his accusers, he lifts up his calm voice, and his speech is as the song of the dying swan. For—

VI. IN THAT HOUR OF DANGER AND TRIAL HIS CLEAN AND UNTROUBLED MEMORY GATHERS UP THE TESTIMONIES TO THE TRUTH OF HIS DOCTRINE WHICH ARE SCATTERED ON THE PAGES OF HOLY SCRIPTURE . Has he preached Jesus Christ whom they denied? Did not their fathers deny Moses their lawgiver and deliverer from Egypt? Had he said that the majestic presence of the living God was not confined to the walls of temples made with hands? Did not Isaiah say the same? Had he denounced the vanity of sacrifices and offerings when offered by uncircumcised hearts and unclean hands? Had not their prophets done so likewise? He could not retract what he had spoken according to the oracles of God. He had spoken the truth, and by the truth he would stand. But were they there to judge him? Nay, but he would judge them. They had, indeed, received the Law, but they had broken it. The Holy Ghost had spoken to them, but they had resisted him. God's Christ had come to save them, and they had betrayed and crucified him. Let them fill up the measure of their fathers; he was ready to receive death at their hands.

VII. And then comes THE CLOSING SCENE . The faith as firm as a rock with the waves dashing upon it; the vision of invisible glories swallowing up all things in its brightness; the rapturous confession of Jesus Christ; the calm committal of his spirit to his safe keeping; the free forgiveness of his cruel murderers; the devout prayer of his parting breath; the peaceful death like an infant's sleep; earth exchanged for heaven;—and the martyrdom is complete. Complete, but not ended; for the witnessing voice is still ringing in our ears, and tells us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that we have life through his Name.