Why do people attack the messenger?

In Acts 7, Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr — stoned to death for telling the truth. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows that God’s people are often attacked not for what they do, but for what they say.

Stephen, a man full of faith, was dragged before the ruling council on false charges. Instead of backing down, he walked them through Israel’s history and showed how God’s messengers had been rejected again and again — and now they had done the same to Jesus. As they raged, Stephen looked up and saw heaven opened, with Jesus standing at God’s right hand to welcome him. Even as the stones fell, Stephen prayed for his killers, echoing Jesus on the cross. Watching it all, and approving, was a young man named Saul — who would later become the Apostle Paul.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why was Stephen killed? Not for any crime, but for boldly telling the truth about Jesus. Like the prophets before him, he was attacked for his message, not his behavior.

2. What did Stephen see as he died? He saw heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, as if rising to welcome him home. It was God’s assurance in his final moment.

3. How does Stephen’s death echo Jesus’ own? Like Jesus, Stephen entrusted his spirit to God and prayed for those killing him. His death also scattered the believers and helped spread the gospel further.

“Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” — Acts 7:56 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Acts Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.