#BibleStudy Expressions of Faith. Acts 6. Living A Parallel Life – Part 1

 

Living A Parallel Life – Part 1

8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people…

15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 6:8, 15*

Ever felt like your life was paralleling someone else’s?

It might have been intentional.

• Musicians and athletes often comment on the choices they make based on a role model they chose.

It might not have been intentional.

• You overhear a description of someone’s life and think, “Wow! That sounds like me.”

Stephen began to parallel the life of Jesus when the apostles laid hands on the group of Greek Christians chosen to serve the widows.

• The Holy Spirit filled them all.
• The parallel life began.

Some Greek Jews in Jerusalem begin to vigorously oppose Stephen and his ministry.

• Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees opposed Jesus.

But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. Matthew 12:14 There are other examples!

• The opposition to Stephen’s ministry is unsuccessful.

But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 

Acts 6:10

• The opposition to Jesus' ministry is unsuccessful.

and he [Jesus] asked them [Pharisees], “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Matthew 22:20-22 There are others!

• The Greeks attacking Stephen, a collection of individuals from throughout the Roman Empire, recruit men to lie about Stephen.
• Jews recruited men to lie about Jesus.

Many testified falsely against him [Jesus], but their statements did not agree. 

Mark 14:56

• Jews are riled up by false testimony both times.

They drag Stephen before the Sanhedrin.

• More lies are told about him at that time.
• Jesus was already before the Sanhedrin before much of the false testimony was given.

The parallel life stalls here.

• Jesus was silent before His accusers.
• Stephen delivers a lengthy speech.
• That’s where Part 2 begins.

If someone watched your life for a time,

how much of what they saw

would remind them of the life of Jesus?

 

The next Expression of Faith is Living A Parallel Life – Part 2

 

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