5 Smooth Stones

Stephen gave a remarkable sermon which became the template for preaching throughout the New Testament. He brought up example after example of God speaking to one of the patriarchs and prophets, outside of the Promised Land and away from the temple. This stirred up hatred among the religious sect. Stephen’s message was summed up in Acts 7:48 50: 48 ”However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49 Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest? 50 Has My hand not made all these things?’” Stephen was stoned to death for this message. Jesus likewise was cruci fi ed over the accusation recorded in Mark 14:58, “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’” In Vs 63, 64 we read, “Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?’ And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.” So, the theme central to the gospel message was set, that Jesus, raised from the dead after three days, does not dwell in temples made of stone, but will come and dwell in the temple of our heart if we will receive Him as savior. After Stephen was martyred the church was sca tt ered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1). “Therefore those who were sca tt ered went everywhere preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4). Philip went to Samaria and preached (euaggelizo) the word there. The results Philip had in Samaria were what we have come to expect from the evangelist gift, there was good news, great joy, power over the enemy, healing and freedom from bondage. Acts 8:6 “And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.” In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul named the ministries to the church in another order than to the church of Ephesus. 1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God has appointed these in the church: fi rst apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” While miracles and gifts of healings can be separate callings (as op posed to simple manifestations listed in 1 Corinthians 12 7-10), together miracles and healings in this verse represents the evangelist gift, just as helps and administrations (steering) represents the shepherd gift. As demonstrated by Philip in Samaria, the gift of evangelist was seen to 112