Stephen’s Sermon, Acts 7

This post covers Stephen’s Sermon before the council.

Stephen’s Sermon discusses what he said when accused of destroying the temple and Moses’ law and what it meant, Acts 7:1-2. “And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia,”

From this introduction, Stephen proceeded to trace Jewish history from Abraham to Joseph to Moses emphasizing the repeated rejection of God and His messengers.

His brothers rejected Joseph, later their savior in time of famine.

Moses was first rejected when he killed an Egyptian and imagined that God willed that he would free the Israelites from captivity (See Exodus 2.) Then they rejected Moses a second time after he led them into the wilderness. When he went up on Mount Sinai to receive the law, the Israelites rejected him and made an idol to lead them back to Egypt.

The Israelites rejected Moses again and again in the wilderness.

With the blessings of God and Joshua as their leader, they conquered the idol-worshipping people in Canaan. But then they began to worship idols and reject God’s worship and the prophets God sent. Finally, God rejected them and allowed them to become slaves.

God first gave them a tabernacle in the wilderness to direct worship. Then, God set itaside for the temple. Finally, the Babylonians burned the temple. Jesus explained that the temple and Moses law were now set aside.

Note that this council represented the Israelites of Stephen’s day.

Finally, Stephen drew his conclusion. They were stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears just like their fathers, because they rejected Jesus and crucified Him. They were not keepers of the law and had now become betrayers and murderers.

This angered the council so much that they dragged Stephen out of the city and stoned him to death.

Thus, Stephen gave his life for telling the truth.

Today, let us obey God exactly and not reject His word.

So, what did we learn?

1.Stephen traced the Israelite history and their rejection of God and His law.

2.Stephen accused the council of rejecting Jesus like their fathers rejected God.

3.The council stoned Stephen to death.

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