“A BOLD AND POWERFUL DISCOURSE BY STEPHEN” Acts 7: 1-60

In this chapter, we find Stephen, a dynamic servant-leader, who was endowed with being “full of faith, and power and did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:8), rehearsing the history of the nation before the Sanhedrin council.  In rehearsing their history, he charges them with being guilty of resisting and rebelling against God.  In our day, we need more Stephens, those who would declare boldly the truth of God’s word.

Stephen, in this address, boldly tells the Sanhedrin council that they are guilty of being betrayers and murderers of Jesus.  Of course, the truth hurts and this truth will lead to Stephen being stoned to death.  This council had already accused him (Acts 6:13-14), but Stephen makes no attempt to defend himself.
Stephen, however, reviews the history of the nation of Israel beginning with Abraham.

In verse 2-8, Stephen rehearses the call of Abraham, a man of faith, called from Ur of the Chaldees.  He was called out of idolatry.   You will recall that God called Abram and promised him a land, seed and a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3).  After rehearsing the history of Abraham, Stephen moved to God’s dealing with Joseph, who was sold into slavery because of his brothers’ envy and hatred; however, God was definitely with him (Genesis 37:23-28; 39:2-3, 23).  To exhibit their disdain for Joseph his brother cast him into a pit and Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver.  Now, Joseph is in Egypt.  And while in Egypt, he was lied on by Potiphar’s wife because Joseph did not give in to her advances and he went to prison (Genesis 39:7-20).  While in prison, the butler and the baker had a dream, and Joseph interprets their dreams, telling the butler that he will be restored; but the chief baker will be hanged (Genesis chapter 40).

God was definitely behind the great movements of Joseph’s life in Egypt, for after interpreting an awesome dream of Pharaoh in Genesis chapter 41, Joseph is elevated to a position of being second to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:38-41).  God will indeed exalt you in due season; we need to remain humble and wait on the Lord to elevate us!  Furthermore, Stephen continues to demonstrate that God was orchestrating the changes in Israel’s history by reviewing the time of the great emancipator, Moses (Acts 7:17-43).

The illustrious career of Moses can be divided from three forty year periods:  forty years Moses spends in the Egyptian Court; forty years he spends in Midian; and forty years he spends leading the children of Israel.  God commissioned Moses at the age of eighty to lead His people form Egyptian slavery.  Through a series of ten plagues, Pharaoh releases God’s children.  Faced with a crisis of crossing the Red Sea, God provided a miracle for His people and even provided for them in the wilderness (v. 36).  Moses even prophesied that Christ will come as a great Prophet (v. 37).  Continuing to review God’ historical dealings with His people, Stephen mentioned both the tabernacle (vv. 44-46) and the temple (vv. 47-50) as important aspects of Israel’s illustrious history.

In verses 51-53, Stephen charges the Sanhedrin of rejecting the message of God through Jesus Christ.  When one has rejected the message of God through Jesus Christ, certainly one is blame worthy.  In verses 54-60, the religious figures were furious at Stephen’s message and even stoned Stephen, calling upon God.  In the midst of being stoned, Stephen asked the Lord to receive his spirit and not to lay this sin to the blame of the Jews (vv. 59-60).