Acts 8:9-24
You can almost hear the cluck of the stones as they hit Stephen. The church, the Portico church. was under threat again. Every challenge they'd had, they'd met wonderfully. Now one of their deacons was being killed. What was that all about?
Well, tensions between believing Grecian widows and the Jerusalem widows had been solved. But some non-believing Grecians Jews, now became enraged. And some of them, from the a synagogue, called the synagogue of the Freedmen, likely freed slaves, got into an argument with one of the deacons that the Portico church had chosen. He was Stephen. They argued with him about Jesus. Stephen said, and he argued it very forcefully, that Jesus Christ was the long awaited Messiah. Of course, the guys from the synagogue argued against this. Eventually, Stephen won. But these fellows did not just turn around and follow Jesus. They turned around and tried to figure out another way to resolve the dispute.
They got some men together and convinced them to accuse Stephen of blasphemy. To accuse him of bad mouthing Moses. Since it was his tongue that won him the argument they decided to use his tongue as an instrument to destroy him. This accusation was taken to the Jewish leaders. And there they accused Stephen of talking against the law. He's talking against Moses and even against God. The whole matter got to the seventy one members of the Supreme Court which was called the Sanhedrin. This court met daily in their own building not far from the temple. Steven was brought into their presence. Luke says that as they looked at him, they saw that Stephen's face was like the face of an angel.” Then the high priest who was in charge of questioning asked, "Are these things true, did you say "these things? "Stephen used his question as an opportunity testify about Jesus. He told them about God's work with their people over many centuries. Then he concluded by accusing them of killing Jesus. He said you fellows murdered God's righteous one. They could not withstand this kind of an argument, this kind of a claim. Their blood rush to their heads. They were filled with fury and rage. They shouted and they screamed. They stopped up their ears so they couldn't hear Stephen say anything else. Their desire at that moment was to kill this man. The Sanhedrin was now out of control. They were no longer respectable and dignified. Debating with Stephen was no longer an option. They were like a bunch of madmen. They wanted to shut Stephen up were good. They dragged him out of town. Just like they had dragged Jesus out of town some months earlier. Stephen said, "I see heaven open and the son of man standing at the right hand of God."
Some of them immediately, began looking for stones. They were planning to execute with these stones. But they hadn't come prepared for this. Their clothing was bulky. They surely wouldn't be able to throw accurately with their gowns, their robes, their belts, their stuff. So they found a fellow, also a member of the Sanhedrin, who was not enraged, at least not visibly so standing at the edge of the crowd. They asked him, "Sir, Sir, can you look after our clothing? If we put them here, will you make sure no one takes them? Without smiling, he looked at them and said, "I definitely will do that for you. Go ahead." They proceeded to. kill Stephen. As as he was about to collapse, as the rain of stones rendered him senseless, Stephen prayed, "Lord, do not hold the sin against them. "When he had said this, he fell asleep.
The whole incident had the effect of acting like a trigger in the heart of the fellow who had been watching the executioners clothing. His name was Saul. The whole scene unleashed anger, rage and self righteous fury in him far more, then was in the hearts of any of the others. When Stephen had said, "You killed Jesus, you killed your Messiah." Saul began a campaign against the Portico church. He had men go with him from house to house arresting followers of Jesus. Anyone who named the name of Jesus was a potential captive. Unceremoniously, they were dragged out of their houses. Many of them very calmly, some of them no doubt kicking and screaming. They were taken to prison where they were held and sometimes executed. So sometimes vote voted to have them killed. The Portico church was terrified. Frightened. Whenever they could, they asked each other. "What is happening? Why are these men after us? What's going to happen next?” Some of them said to the others. "Look, I think we’ve you've gotta leave town. I don't think we can stay here. Things are not getting any better." And they started to run. As soon as possible, they went out the gates of the city and headed west into Judaea or headed north into Samaria. When they breathed a sigh of relief. Surely saw couldn't catch them there. And some of them even overshot Samaria ended up in a very safe place, Damascus of Syria.
They all had many questions. One of those questions concerned, the Holy Spirit. Where was he? Why hadn't he intervened as he had done in the incident with Ananias?Before we consider why they would be asking this question let's go back to the beginning of Acts. Return to the first chapter of Acts. There we are told Jesus had risen from the dead. and was regularly meeting with his followers. They could see him. and even observe the toll with the nails, the spear had taken on his body. They saw his joy. And they heard his words of comfort and instruction. "Right at the end, right at the end of his time, upon the earth they ate together. It seems Jesus was concerned about how they would behave after he returned to heaven. Perhaps, they would scatter and head back for Galilee. He made it clear to them, but after he left, they should stay put. They should not leave Jerusalem until the promised spirit had come. All this talk about a promised, comforter, and about his departure, led the disciples to ask Jesus a question.
They asked him. "Is this the time that the kingdom of Israel will be re established. Is this the time when the Romans will be driven out? If they are then we Jews will be in charge. Is this the time? What do you think, Jesus?” Jesus answered. That's a question. I can't answer. I don't know. But here's something I do know. The Holy Spirit, remember? We were talking about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is going to come upon you and give you power. And that’s a promise. You’re going to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, right here. And after that you’ll do the same in Judaea, nearby and in Samaria, one place over, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. No, you will never go back to Galilee to fish or collect taxes. You’re going to be world travellers. None of you will be able to hang up your sandals until the day you die. And Jesus made sure they understood this was a promise. A promise that would surely come to pass.
Of course, the disciples may have thought that the Holy Spirit would come and walk down the road with him the same as Jesus had been doing for three years. It's very likely that as far as they were concerned this Holy Spirit would eat with them and whole long evening fireside conversations with them. But that's not what Jesus was talking about in the immediate future. The Holy Spirit would come in the form of many flames of fire. These would land on them individually and give them remarkable gifts as he moved through his book. Luke used other ways or other words to talk about the relationship. The Holy Spirit would have with them. For instance, at the time weeks later, when Peter was preaching to Cornelius, he wrote, that the Holy Spirit fell on his audience. This time the Holy Spirit didn't come in the form of a flame, but instead in the form of someone who was hugging them. Yes I'm not joking. The word Luke used to talk about the coming of the spirit with the word epipepto, meaning to hug. Over and over again as they walked along the narrow winding roads, and as they sailed across the rough seas, the Holy Spirit would hug them. He would be with them and he would help them.
And then? He left. Abruptly he rose up into the air and was soon hidden from their sight by a cloud. And they didn't see him anymore. After that, Jesus kept his promise. The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost, and was with all of them in ways that Jesus himself alone could never have been. Soon, there were thousands of them. He was with all of them. The Holy Spirit was a great comfort. He was there as they went through various issues, especially conflicts with the leaders of the temple. He was also there during conflicts between the apostles and Ananias and Sapphira. When some widows complained that they were not getting a fair shake during the food distribution the Holy Spirit was there.
But the question on the minds of those running families, those fleeing leaders, trying to escape from Saul’s mighty grip was. Where's the Holy Spirit now? Where's that promise now? Why are we no longer being hugged by the Spirit? Our church the Portico church has been decimated. Who wants to go to the porch of the Temple and worship God when it's very likely, the authorities will arrest us and throw us into jail. We're willing to suffer, but but if the Holy Spirit isn't there to comfort us, what's the point of going on? We don't know where we're going now. Where's the Holy Spirit in all this?
That question was soon answered. As they stopped for the night they told their story to the inn-keeper. And as they passed people on the road they told their story to fellow travellers. They were frightened. But even frightened people talked. They said things like, "Jerusalem was excited when a man named Jesus came to town. He performed many miracles, and he taught us the way of life most clearly. But the religious leaders felt threatened by him and so they had him executed by the Romans. But then he was resurrected! When we heard that we turned our lives over to him and praise God continually. But then the authorities began to harass and abuse us. We're trying to get away from them and so we're we're heading down the road. We're homeless. We refugees. But we are happy because Jesus rose from the dead. He is the Messiah. Everywhere they went they told the same story.
One of the deacons that Stephen had been part of, Philip by name stopped in for a rest under a great trip along with other travellers. As they sat there themselves told the people there the story of Jesus. But more than that, he began performing miracles. Demons, servants of the devil were cast out. Sickness or being healed. These healings plus Phillips words about the Messiah and the Kingdom of God caught their attention. Now they, being Samaritans, still remembered how John Hyrcanus, a high priest had brought an army into their region 150 years earlier. They destroyed their temple. A temple that was far more illustrious than the temple in Jerusalem. And he had also destroyed their city and ruined their country. The woman at the well talked about that terrible time at the time Jesus spoke to her about “the water of life”.
But now here was another Jewish man telling them that someone would come and deliver them. Someone called the Messiah. The anointed one from God. And they were ready to listen. Many of them even believed in him. After that many of them were baptized. Philip didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Cry? Because his home was gone. Laugh? Because the Samaritans. were so receptive, so welcoming, so enthusiastic. But the question still was. Where was the Holy Spirit? Where was he? Now, the church in Jerusalem was still operating but on a much different scale. And with lots of anxiety. We're told in the story in Acts that the apostles had not left. They stayed.
The Portico Church in Jerusalem heard what Philip was doing in Samaria and decided to check it out. They sent Peter and John to do the checking. They had. all kinds of questions. "So the Samaritans are believing in Jesus. They probably all should be circumcised. You are very unclean people. We need to teach you the laws of Moses.”
They also had questions about the Holy Spirit? "Can the Holy Spirit travel, that far, all the way to Samaria? Is the Holy Spirit with the newly baptized believers in scenario? So the church sent their big brothers. Peter, and John. It's a little hard to know why they sent John. He was the disciple who had gotten angry because people in a certain Samaritan town refused to take them in for the night. He had said to Jesus, “Do you want us to ask fire to come down from heaven and burn this town?” They arrived. in Samaria and were met with some very happy Samaritans. Although we're not told this, Philip was happy as well. But then Peter and John discovered something. These new Samaritan believers, who had already been baptized did not have the Holy Spirit. The question keeps coming up. Where is the Holy Spirit? And then, thankfully, their training kicked in. They gathered these folks fine folks together. And said, "We're going to pray for you.”
Then Peter and Jon placed their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. " There he was! He was back. Or maybe he had never been gone. They just haven't seen him. Was was it possible that the Holy Spirit had been behind all the misery and tragedy they had experienced back in Jerusalem at the hands of the Sanhedrin and Saul? Had this been the Holy Spirit's Way of fulfilling the words of Jesus just before he left that they would be his witnesses in, guess where, Samaria? And wonder of wall all wonders the witness of Philip had resulted in another church. Now the church in Jerusalem was no longer the only church. There was another church as well.
It was natural for the believers to think that once they got out of Jerusalem, their troubles were over, for good. But less that was not the case the same mysterious figure wearing a black hoodie arrived in Sari along with Philip and the other believers it wasn't long before his presence was very evident in the fledgeling. One of the members of the Samaritan Church was named Simon, Simon Magus. He had been the go to spiritual figure in the city for a long time. The miracles that he performed were unmatched by anybody else. But when Phillip came along it was like the days of Moses. His adversary, Pharaoh, also had his snake producing magicians, who could also make snakes. But Moses snake ate Pharaoh’s snakes. For the the believers in the city it was no contest. They were going to follow Philip. And Simon himself went along with the flow. We are told that, "he believed.” He was also baptized.
After that, Simon Magus stuck to Philip like glue. Everywhere Philip went, Simon was there. listening, watching, learning. Then when Peter arrived, along with John, Simon was intrigued by the coming of the Holy Spirit. He was fascinated. As Peter laid his hands on the believers the Holy Spirit came upon them. I suppose it was easy to know, that the Spirit had come. Some kind of transformation took place. Unknown to everyone, even to Simon, was the presence of the hooded figure climbing into his soul. When this hooded figure, also known as Satan, entered Simon it turned him into a wolf in sheep's clothing. He looked just like the other sheep. But he was not. This became very evident to Peter when Simon approached him with tempting question. Simon said,