Acts Chapter 7
In response to accusations brought up against Stephen, he boldly preached a great message that exposed man’s rejection of the truth. Stephen was being questioned about things he had said, supposedly blasphemous words against Moses and God and about the temple. Of course, there were false witnesses that were brought in to make false claims, misconstruing the words he had said just as it had been done with the words of Jesus.
Stephen showed how man has rejected God’s truth – taking them back to their ancestors that they held in such high esteem. Through this sermon Stephen established the plan of God to redeem His chosen people, but the people rejected Him. Stephen boldly demonstrated that they had repeatedly rejected the redemptive work of God and ultimately, they had killed their redeemer on Calvary.
Let's Reflect
1. What promise did God make to Abraham that Stephen reminded the people of? See verse 5.
2. God foretold the slavery of the Hebrew people in Egypt. How many years did God say that the people would be slaves?
3. God also told them ahead of time that He would send a redeemer to lead them out of Egypt. But for all of this history to take place, Abraham needed to have a child. What was the name of the child that Abraham and his wife had that started the patriarchal line of the Jewish people?
4. Another story of rejection existed in their history. The sons of Jacob had rejected their brother and tried to get rid of him. His name was Joseph. But God was with Joseph and what did Stephen say that God did for Joseph? See verse 10.
5. Stephen then told the story of how it was that the people became slaves of the Egyptians. He told how God raised up a redeemer by the name of Moses. God had spoke directly to Moses in the burning bush. God told Moses that He had come down to deliver the people and that Moses was to go to Egypt. What did Stephen say about the reception of Moses in Egypt? See verse 35.
6. Here is where Stephen’s message gets really good. Stephen had proved that Moses was used as Israel’s deliver even though they had rejected him. And Moses had told the people about a prophet that was coming, a prophet that God would raise up. This prophet was Jesus. Despite Moses meeting directly with God, the people rejected the words of Moses and did what? See verse 41.
7. Stephen reminded them how their forefathers had the “tent of witness” or the “tent of meeting” where God directly stayed with the people, yet they rejected Him. What name did God call the people of the Old Testament that rejected Him and Stephen applied this name to his current audience?
8. Stephen reminded them that the prophets had been martyred because they had foretold of God’s redemptive work. Now these men were doing the same thing. What did Stephen say they had done according to verse 53?
9. They were enraged and drove Stephen out. Before they even threw one rock at Stephen, what did Stephen see when he looked up?
10. Stephen made a declaration that he saw the resurrected Savior whom they killed! Sadly, they did stone him to death. But Stephen was in a far better place – with his Jesus! A key person was there that day, Saul. What could Stephen be heard saying as he fell to his knees in death?
Devotionals
