Category: Bible

The first five chapters of Acts fly by. There are so many stories that Luke crams in. Yet now he decides to take a full two chapters to tell the story of a man named Stephen. I honestly would love a bit more commentary on what had happened over the last few weeks, but apparently there is something important here that he wants to focus on. So who was Stephen?

We first meet Stephen during those early days when the Church was experiencing immense growth. People were being overlooked, so seven men known to be “full of the Spirit and wisdom” were chosen to help manage the beautiful chaos. Stephen was one of those.

When Stephen wasn’t bringing structure to chaos, he was telling people about Jesus. And he was demonstrating the kingdom through signs and wonders. He was a compelling presence, and people flocked to him. The religious leaders, yet again jealous, attempted to debate him but were no match.

So they convinced some men to say that they had heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.

Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin (a Jewish ruling body). The false witnesses testified against him. Those false witnesses said that Stephen was speaking against their law and saying that “this Jesus” wanted to change all of the customs that Moses had handed down to his people all of those many years ago.

I think the reason Luke includes such a long story is that, as we’ll see, this Jesus movement was about to expand past the Jewish people into the Gentile world. It would be good for those who enter this movement to understand the fuller story of the Jewish people.

So Stephen tells the Jewish people their own story. He begins with Abraham leaving everything he knew to go to a new place because he trusted God. He moved on to God rescuing his people from slavery in Egypt. Through both of these stories we see ordinary people placing their trust in a God who often invited his people to follow him in rather strange ways. But this God was over and over again revealed to be loving and faithful to his people.

Stephen then dives into the part of the story when God made them into a nation as they followed Joshua, and then into one of the greatest nations as they followed David and Solomon.

Throughout all of this, the crowd is nodding their heads. They like this guy. He knows his history, and he tells their history in such a compelling way. But then he turns. He calls them stiff-necked people. He says that their hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. He rebukes them for killing Jesus, who was sent by God, but also for killing those prophets who pointed to Jesus. He wants to remind them that throughout their history, their response to this faithful God was so often unfaithfulness. And so what they had done to Jesus was simply the culmination of their rebellious pattern.

This was too much for them. The members of the Sanhedrin were furious. In that moment, Stephen looked up to heaven and said, “Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Without a true trial the mob took Stephen outside of the city, circled up around him and stoned him. Stephen died that day. He is the first Christian martyr. And that day persecution was unleashed upon the Church.

There is one final detail that Luke shares at the end of this story. There was a young man in the crowd named Saul. Luke tells us that he approved of the killing.

It’s a difficult task being that I’ve been around the Bible and these stories for all of my life, but I like to try imagining hearing a story for the first time. I’ve tried especially hard to do this during the last month, and this morning it proved to be a helpful exercise.

A big question that comes in this moment is, “What happened to Peter?” Prior to the crucifixion, we see Peter talking a big game (I’ll die before I leave you, Jesus) but then doing exactly what Jesus said he would (deny he even knew him three times in a row). Peter was disappointed with himself. He felt tremendous shame. But something happened after Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus spent time with Peter. He reaffirmed his love for him. He told him that it would be ok. And actually, it was going to be more than just ok. Jesus was still going to use Peter to build his church. It’s key to understand that Peter accepted this as fact, even though things still felt bad. He chose to trust Jesus.

So when the day of Pentecost came, Peter was ready to show the courage that he knew was in him. Further, a lot of thoughts had begun to solidify in those days after Jesus ascended. Things made sense in a new way. And then after what the Spirit did that Pentecost morning…now he was ready to dive in deeper.

So one afternoon Peter and John were going to the temple for prayer (Acts 3:1). They came upon a man who had been lame since birth. They had no doubt passed by this man many times, but this day they stopped. The man, as was his custom, asked them for money. What Peter says next is quite surprising.

“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

The man gave him his hand, and Peter helped him up. Instantly his feet and ankles became strong, and he began to walk.

What had changed for Peter?

First, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead was now living in Peter (Ephesians 1:19). Even as I write this, I’m pretty sure I still fail to grasp just how big of a deal this truly is.

Second, Peter was ready to live from this reality rather than the one he had been living from before he met Jesus, and even during those three years he was with Jesus, which can best be described as trying to push his agenda on Jesus. Sure, this kind of living was risky, but why waste anymore time. He truly believed Jesus, and it was time to exercise this faith!

At this point a crowd has gathered, and this is the point in which I want to read with fresh eyes. Here’s how Luke describes what is going on…

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him (Acts 3:10).

When you are filled with wonder and amazement, you want to know more. And so Peter took the moment to share what was going, and how what had just happened was connected with what God was doing. He tells them that they had a role to play in killing Jesus, whom he calls the author of life. He reminds them that they handed him over to Pilate, pushing him even when he believed no crime had been committed. They killed him, but God raised him from the dead.

It’s been around two months since the death and resurrection of Jesus, and I can’t imagine that anyone there hasn’t heard the stories. But this time the stories land in a new way in their hearts. They truly want to know more.

Peter acknowledges that they were ignorant when they played their role in killing the Messiah. But he offers them the opportunity to repent (to rethink everything). He offers them the opportunity to turn back to God. If they do that, their sins will be wiped out, and times of refreshing will come. He shares this because he too has experienced it.

Before Peter could finish, the religious leaders suddenly appear and arrest Peter and John. Remember, they thought Jesus’ followers would scatter once Jesus was put to death. They thought the rebellion would fail. But it has done the exact opposite. So now they have to get rid of these leaders.

But it didn’t matter. The love and grace of God was spreading faster than anyone could imagine. People were taking Peter up on this offer of repentance. In this day alone Luke says that the number of men who believed was now up to 5000.

The religious leaders could see what was happening, and they knew they couldn’t lock up Peter and John. The people wouldn’t have it, especially after what had just happened. They ended up scolding them and letting them go.

We’ve spent the last month looking at the life of Jesus. We’re now going to spend the rest of the year looking at what happened next. It’s the birth of the Church. Jesus’ last words to his disciples were that he was leaving them, but the story was far from over. God was going to send the promised Holy Spirit to them, and this Spirit would continue God’s work inside each of them. This Spirit would form a unique and diverse community, and would use them to change the world.

Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait. So that’s what they did. It worked out that a lot of Jewish people had either stayed in Jerusalem, or were now back, as it was Pentecost. The Jewish people who were there were from all over. They spoke different languages and had different customs. But what brought them together was their allegiance to Yahweh.

On the morning of Pentecost something happened. There was a sound like the blowing of a violent wind, and there appeared to be tongues of fire that was resting on each one of them. Note that this description comes from Acts 2. I have no idea what this looked like. But it was wild. What happened next was even wilder. They began speaking in languages that they didn’t know, but those people who had traveled from far away lands recognized it as their languages.

Peter, who just weeks before had been such a wreck after not standing beside Jesus, felt like he should speak to those who were wondering what had happened. During the 40 days that Jesus was with them after his resurrection, Peter had been restored. He knew that Jesus loved him. He knew that Jesus had changed his life, and he desperately wanted to believe about himself what Jesus believed about him.

So he stood and he addressed the crowd. He let them know that they had not had too much to drink (some thought that was what was going on). No, this was fulfilling prophecy. God was sending his Spirit to continue the work that Jesus had begun. He told them that part of the plan of God was that Jesus would die an unjust death but then rise from the dead.

He invited them to repent and be baptized. Luke, who recorded all of this in the book of Acts, says that 3000 were added to their number that day.

What happens next is quite amazing. Some of those 3000 people were from Jerusalem, but most were not. They had come just for this festival, and they were planning on going back home soon. But most of them didn’t want to go now that they had experienced this.

Here’s how Luke describes their life together…

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes, and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God, and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47

Before we continue with the story, I think it’s important to remember that Jesus had told his followers that he was going to die, but that he wasn’t going to stay dead (Matthew 16:21). But I don’t think it ever truly registered. The emotions in this current moment that they find themselves in are just too big, and they aren’t sure how to respond. After all, it wasn’t that many days ago that Jesus was ushered into Jerusalem as a coming king. And now, just like that, he’s been arrested, tried and executed as a criminal. It’s just too much.

The story picks up on Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene and a couple of other women go to the tomb in order to anoint Jesus’ body. It seems that everything had been moving so fast when he died that they didn’t get a chance to do this before Joseph of Arimathea had him placed in the tomb. But as they are on their way, they realize that there’s a big problem that they hadn’t thought about. There is a large stone in front of the tomb. How would they get inside?

But when the arrive, they find that the stone had been rolled away. They have no idea how that could have happened. So they go inside. But they don’t see a body. Instead, they see “a young man dressed in a white robe” (Mark 16:5). They are no doubt puzzled and scared. The young man says the following:

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will se him, just as he told you” (Matthew 16:6-7).

This does not alleviate their fears – they were now officially freaked out! They left the tomb in a hurry, but they did what they were told. They found Peter and John and told them what had happened. Peter and John run to the tomb to find an empty tomb.

Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene is at the empty tomb, all alone with her grief and shock. A man comes up to her and asks why she is crying. She thinks it’s the gardener. So she explains what has happened, and then man, who is actually Jesus, simply says her name. In that moment she realizes who he is, and she is overjoyed.

Word quickly gets back to the religious leaders that the tomb is empty. There’s no way they can allow rumors to spread that this man they’ve just killed, who might actually be the Messiah, has now come back to life. So they pay off the soldiers and tell them to say that the disciples stole the body.

Later that day the disciples were all together in a room, when suddenly Jesus was there. He said to them, “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36). This didn’t bring them peace. They were scared out of their minds. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. But it was really him!

Jesus spent the next 40 days with his friends. And then he took them up to a mountain. He was leaving them, but he wanted to commission them to continue on with the work that he had begun. His last instructions to them were to stay in Jerusalem (the one place they wanted to leave), and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. And then he ascended into heaven.

Jesus was led, along with two other criminals, to a place called Golgotha. It was known as the Skull. He was then nailed to a cross that he had had to carry on his back. On top of the cross was a sign that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The religious leaders didn’t like this, but Pilate didn’t care.

The crowd mocked him, saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God” (Matthew 27:40)! One of the criminals even mocked him. But the other knew that Jesus didn’t deserve this. He said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

John was the only one of Jesus’ disciples who was there at the crucifixion. The rest had fled. But his mother Mary was there. And in Jesus’ time of need, he was more concerned about her well being and comfort. He said to John, “Here is your mother.”

After some time, Jesus said, “It is finished. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” And with that he breathed his last breath and died. At that moment the earth shook, and the curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish Council, came to Pilate and asked for permission to bury Jesus in his family tomb. Pilate allowed it. Jesus’ body was prepared as was the custom, he was placed in the tomb, and a large stone was rolled in front to seal it.

Because there had been rumors that Jesus would rise from the dead, Pilate told the religious leaders the he would put a solider there to guard the tomb.

The Jewish leaders who want Jesus dead have the support they need from the religious community. But they have a problem. They lack the power to convict and carry out an execution. So they appeal to Pilate, who is the Roman governor over Judea, Samaria and Idumea. He is the only one with any power. The problem for them is that he has no issue with Jesus. We’re not even sure if he is aware who he is.

So the religious leaders have to get creative when they come to Pilate. They know Pilate won’t care about their real concern – that Jesus has blasphemed God. So they come up with another reason: “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king” (Luke 23:2).

Pilate questions Jesus but finds no reason for him to be killed. Once he learns that Jesus is from Galilee, he summons Herod Antipas, who ruled that area and who was in Jerusalem for Passover. Herod was delighted to meet Jesus, hoping he would entertain him with some miracles. Jesus wasn’t there for that, so Herod quickly became bored and sent him back to Pilate.

Pilate questioned him again, and once again found that Jesus had done nothing that warranted death. And then he had an idea. Every year at Passover he would release a prisoner. He selected the worse prisoner he had, a man named Barabbas. Surely the crowd would prefer to have Jesus released over this truly evil man. But the religious leaders persuaded the crowd that this was not the right decision. They yelled out, “Release Barabbas to us!” Pilate then asked the crowd, “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

The response: “Crucify him!”

This is the same crowd who only days earlier had welcomed Jesus as they would welcome a conquering king. And now they wanted him killed.

Pilate relented. He had Jesus stripped and beaten. The soldiers spit on him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews.” They made a crown of thorns and pushed it down upon his head.

Pilate then washed his hands of the mess and did what the Jewish leaders wanted. He sentenced Jesus to death.

A lot has happened in the last few hours. Jesus has shared a final meal with his friends. He’s then shared some of his most important final teachings them. And then he’s communed with his Father through prayer.

He now invites Peter, James and John to sit with him while he continues to pray. It’s such an honor to be invited into this time. He’s vulnerable with them, sharing that, “my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:34). Jesus is determined to complete the task, but he’s scared. And he wants his friends to be with him.

He prays such an honest prayer to God: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). I admit that I don’t know for sure how to take this. I think it definitely shows his humanity though. When he finishes praying he looks over and sees that his three friends had fallen asleep. It says that they were exhausted from sorrow. It still hurts Jesus. He feels alone. This happens two more times.

At that moment Judas, along with a group of religious rulers and soldiers, entered the garden and approached Jesus. Judas came to Jesus and kissed him. This was the sign to the soldiers. They prepared to arrest him. Peter attacked, chopping off the ear of a soldier. Jesus immediately scolded Peter and healed the man.

And then Jesus was arrested. Over the next few hours he stood trial before various rulers. He was beaten over and over again. Peter was asked three times if he was a part of Jesus’ cohort. Three times he said no. The rooster crowed just as Jesus had said, and Peter wept. He was wrecked, but perhaps not as much as Judas was. His despair was so great that he committed suicide, leaving the thirty coins under where he hanged.

Jesus and his disciples (minus Judas) left the upper room and headed for the Mount of Olives. Here Jesus gives a powerful teaching to them that he has apparently waited on until this point. Here are some of my takeaways from his teaching.

I am the vine and you are the branches (John 15:1-8) – Jesus is reminding them that they were never meant to do life on their own. Life with God is the goal. He tells them, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Love one another (John 15:9-17) – For the past three years Jesus has been modeling love for them. His love for people is rooted in the relationship he has with God. The same will be true for them. And then he gives them one last command: “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

You’re not going to be alone (John 15:18-16:15) – Jesus is about to share something with them that will literally change the world. He tells them that after he is gone, the Father is going to send an Advocate for them – the Holy Spirit. And they are going to need this Advocate, because what Jesus is about to go through (persecution) is going to happen to them as well. But God will never leave them.

Jesus then leaves them to pray. He prays for himself (John 17:1-5). His prayer is that God would glorify him in God’s presence with the glory the two of them had before the world began. I don’t know what this means, but it sure sounds beautiful and powerful. He next prays for his disciples (John 17:6-19). He knows that they have no idea what is about to happen. He asks that God will protect them by the power of God’s name, and he asks that they will be one as they are one. Finally, he prays for the followers who will come after he is gone (John 17:20-26). His prayer is that we would be one as he and God were one. The prayer is once again for unity and oneness. He acknowledges that when we are brought to complete unity, “then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).

Today’s passage tells the story of Jesus’ last few hours in an upper room with his disciples. It begins with Jesus initiating a ritual that is repeated in churches worldwide even today. He takes break, breaks it, and shares it with them, telling them that when they break the bread together, they are remembering what he is about to do. He then take the cup of wine and says that it signifies his blood that is about to be shed. Once again, when they drink it they are reminded of his sacrifice.

The disciples then do the unthinkable. They once again begin to argue about the roles that they will play in the coming kingdom. Rather than yell at them, which I would have likely done, Jesus models humility for them. He washed his disciples’ feet, something a rabbi wouldn’t normally do for his disciples.

Jesus then calls out Judas. He identifies him as the one who will betray him, and then he tells Judas to leave and do what he’s planning.

Finally, Peter, inspired by the acts of Jesus and frustrated by the response of Judas, decides to let Jesus know how committed he is. He tells Jesus that he is ready to go to prison or even to death with Jesus.

Jesus pauses, and then says, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you even know me” (Luke 22:34).

Peter thinks there’s no way this could ever be the case, but a lot is going to change in the coming hours.

I mentioned earlier that the religious leaders were nervous about arresting Jesus during the festival surrounding Passover. Now they’re two days away from the actual day (Matthew 26:1-2), and they know it can’t happen then. But they also know that this might be their best opportunity yet. They have continued to rally support to their cause. This now includes Caiphas, the high priest. And now something even better has happened.

Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples, has come forward and offered, for a price, to lead Jesus right into their hands. What was the price? Thirty pieces of silver.

We don’t know much about Judas. He was invited by Jesus to “come and follow me” just as he had many others. And then he was invited into the inner core of 12. I imagine that he, like the other disciples, had very different ideas of what the Messiah would, and like the others, Jesus had not met many of those expectations, especially as he continued to talk about death.

Peter had been the most outspoken when talking about Jesus not measuring up to his expectations. But at some point he came to the conclusion that he was going to need to give up these expectations and surrender to Jesus’ plan. It seems that Judas was never able to do this.