98 lines
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98 lines
11 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible - Chuck Smith Sermon Notes</title>
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Passage = 'Acts 8:1 ';
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SermonID = 1726;
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<div class="SSN_rnum">I. "AND SAUL WAS CONSENTING UNTO HIS DEATH."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">A. Here again it is important to remember that the chapter and verse designations were man-made, it was not so in the original manuscripts.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. There was a continual flow in the original and here we need to go back a few verses to get the flow.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Act',7,58 );">ACS 7:58</a> And cast Stephen out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Act',7,59 );">ACS 7:59</a> And as they stoned Stephen, He was calling on God, saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Act',7,60 );">ACS 7:60</a> And he knelt down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Act',8,1 );">ACS 8:1</a> And Saul was consenting unto his death.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">B. Here we get a brief introduction to a man who will become one of the major instruments in God's program to get the gospel out to the world.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. Our first introduction is negative.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">a. We see him aiding and abetting those who are stoning Stephen.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">b. We are told here that he is consenting to his death.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. We see him taking a lead roll in trying to wipe out the new born church.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Act',8,3 );">ACS 8:3</a> As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed [them] to prison.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">3. By his own admission he said that he persecuted this way unto death. That he bound and delivered into prison both men and women. <i>(<a onClick="return mV('Act',22,4);">Acts 22:4</a>)</i></div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">4. He told king Agrippa:</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Act',26,10 );">ACS 26:10</a> And many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against [them].</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Act', 26,11);">ACS 26:11</a> And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled [them] to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted [them] even unto strange cities.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">5. To the Corinthians he wrote:</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('1Cr',15,9);">1CO 15:9</a> For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">6. To the Galatians he wrote:</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Gal',1,13);">GAL 1:13</a> For ye have heard of my former life in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">7. To the Philippians he said of his past life as a Jew:</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Phl',3,6);">PHI 3:6</a> Concerning zeal, persecuting the church;</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">C. I think that it is correct to assume that when Stephen was disputing those of the synagogue of the Libertines that Saul was one of the chief debaters against Stephen, for Saul had already developed a reputation for his scholarship and zeal.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">D. Saul was well known for his persecution of the church.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. In Damascus when the Lord called Annaias to go and pray for Saul he objected saying:</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Act',9,13);">ACS 9:13</a> Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Act',9,14);">ACS 9:14</a> And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. When those in Damascus heard of his conversion they were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">3. We read that after his conversion when he came to Jerusalem he attempted to join himself to the disciples, but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">E. This is just our introduction to Saul, we will hear much more about him in time to come. His reputation will change radically for they will soon be hearing that He which persecuted the church in times past is now preaching the faith that he once sought to destroy.</div>
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<div class="SSN_rnum">II. "AT THAT TIME THERE WAS GREAT PERSECUTION AGAINST THE CHURCH."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">A. The religious leaders had already begun the persecution.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. The first persecution was begun by the Sadducees, they were upset because they were preaching through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">a. The Sadducees did not believe in angels, spirits, or the resurrection.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">b. The Apostles were claiming that these great miracles that the people saw were being wrought through Jesus who was risen from the dead.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. In the beginning the Pharisees took a more moderate view. Gamaliel who was a Pharisee and Saul's mentor had advised that they not try to stop the apostles, but to just let things go and observe, for if it was not of God, it would fade away, if it was of God they would be in the position of fighting against God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">B. Now the Pharisees are joining in the persecution. Stephen had been disputing with the Helenist; this is why Saul is getting involved. There will now be a great intensifying and expansion of the persecution.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. Many of the believers will be forced to move out of Jerusalem.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. They will be scattered throughout the whole region of Judea and Samaria.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">a. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">b. God will bring good out of the evil intents.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">c. Jesus had told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">d. Things were exciting in Jerusalem, God was moving in their fellowship. No one wanted to leave the security and comfort of the church in Jerusalem.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">e. God will use the persecution to scatter them abroad throughout Judea and Samaria.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">f. Thus as Jesus had said, they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout all Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the world.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">3. Here we see the second and third phases of this prophecy, as they scatter in Judea and Samaria. Here also is the young man whom God will later use to take the message to the world.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">4. The indication here is that the Apostles remained in Jerusalem.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">C. Devout men buried Stephen with great lamentation.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. Now has come the time of which Jesus had declared to them.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Jhn',16,2);">JOH 16:2</a> They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Mat',24,9);">MAT 24:9</a> Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. Stephen was the first one to give his life for his witness of Jesus Christ. He has since been followed by millions.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">3. Why the great lamentations by the devout men at the death of Stephen?</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">a. There was the idea in the early church that Jesus was going to return almost immediately to set up the Kingdom of God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">b. It could be that as in Thessalonica that they believed that those who died before Christ returned would miss out on that wonderful kingdom.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">c. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians concerning this very matter.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">d. We lament at the death of our loved ones, but our sorrow is not as those who have no hope.</div>
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<div class="SSN_rnum">III. "THEREFORE, THEY WHO WERE SCATTERED ABROAD WENT EVERYWHERE PREACHING THE WORD."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">A. The persecution far from destroying the church only caused it to spread like a wild fire.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">B. Prosperity is often a far more dangerous condition than adversity.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">C. When you are weak and know that you have to rely on the Lord, that is the time of strength.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. Paul said, "When I am weak, then am I strong, for God's strength is made perfect in my weakness."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. Again we are warned, "Beware when you think that you stand lest you fall.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">3. Often we think that Satan only attacks in our weakest area.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">4. I really think that the attacks usually come in the place of our greatest strength.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">a. Peter's greatest strength was his courage. He was willing to get out of the boat in the storm to walk to Jesus.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">b. He declared that though all the others might forsake Jesus that he would stand by Him.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">c. He was willing to take on all of the guards who came to arrest Jesus in the garden.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">d. Yet in that place of personal strength he fell.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">5. How is that?</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">a. Where I think I am strong, I am prone to rely upon my strength.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">b. Where I know I am weak, I am prone to rely on His strength.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">D. It is in the times when Satan is assaulting the church that we are driven to our knees.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. It is on our knees that we find our strength.</div>
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