Lesson 11 : The Stirring Sermon & Senseless Stoning of Stephen (7:1-60)

1. Lesson 11:The Stirring Sermon & Senseless Stoning of Stephen (7:1-60)

2. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Stephen was arrested and put on trial at the end of chapter 6 (6:11-16). • He was accused of speaking blasphemously against: Moses, God, the temple, the law. • Stephen’s inspired defense first emphasized that God’s presence, favor and rule were not confined to “the holy land” of Israel or “this holy place” of the temple (7:2-34). • The Lord appeared to and instructed Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia (7:2-3). • The Lord appeared again to and instructed Abraham when he was in Haran (7:4). • The Lord traveled with and made a covenant with Abraham while in Canaan (7:5-8). • The Lord was present with and active in the life of Joseph while in Egypt (7:9-14). • The Lord went with the patriarch Jacobdown to Egypt (7:15-16).

3. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Stephen was arrested and put on trial at the end of chapter 6 (6:11-16). • He was accused of speaking blasphemously against: Moses, God, the temple, the law. • Stephen’s inspired defense first emphasized that God’s presence, favor and rule were not confined to “the holy land” of Israel or “this holy place” of the temple (7:2-34). • The Lord blessed His nation to grow and multiply while in Egypt (7:17). • The Lord was well pleased to save baby Moses from death in Egypt (7:20-21). • The Lord protected Moses in Egypt & went with him to the land of Midian (7:23-29). • The Lord appeared to and spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai (7:30-34). • The Lord, in order to deliver His people, sent Moses back to Egypt (7:34).

4. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • God sees the big picture and controls the big picture for His people! • He foretold that His descendants would live in bondage & oppression in Egypt (7:6). • Still, God foretold that He would punish the oppressors and deliver His people (7:7). • The providence of God in the lives of His individual children is a marvelous thing to see! • Joseph went from being “sold into Egypt” to selling grain as governor over Egypt! • When God’s children “found no sustenance,” God already had it for them in Egypt! • God sees and hears when His people are in trouble! • “I have surely seen…I have heard…I have come down to deliver them” (7:34).

5. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Stephen’s inspired defense second emphasized the willful inclination characteristic of Israel (from its beginning) toward outright rebellion and rejection of God (7:35-53). • Stephen was accused of speaking against Moses, God, the temple and the law, while, in fact, his accusers were the ones guilty of such rebellion throughout history. • Stephen pointed to the fathers as the ones who truly rejected Moses (7:35-40). • God sent Moses to be a ruler and deliverer (7:35-36), but Israel rejected him. • Moses did wonders and signs and he received “the living oracles” (7:36-38).

6. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Stephen’s inspired defense second emphasized the willful inclination characteristic of Israel (from its beginning) toward outright rebellion and rejection of God (7:35-53). • Stephen pointed to the fathers as the ones who rejected God & were rejected (40-43). • Israel demanded “gods” to be made for them to worship (7:40). • Israel made a calf (the idol) and bowed to the work of their own hands (7:41). • Israel not only bowed to their own idol but served pagan gods also (7:42-43). • God gave them up to serve/worship even the heavenly bodies (7:42).

7. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Stephen’s inspired defense second emphasized the willful inclination characteristic of Israel (from its beginning) toward outright rebellion and rejection of God (7:35-53). • Stephen pointed to the fathers as ones who worshiped without a temple (7:44-50). • The tabernacle was planned and constructed at the command of God (7:44-45). • The temple was desired/planned by David, then constructed by Solomon (7:46-47). • God’s prophet said that God “does not dwell in temples made with hands” (7:48).

8. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Stephen’s inspired defense second emphasized the willful inclination characteristic of Israel (from its beginning) toward outright rebellion and rejection of God (7:35-53). • Stephen pointed to the fathers (& his accusers) as ones who violated the law (51-53). • The entire thrust of Jewish history & prophecy was to prepare for Christ (Gal. 3:24). • The fathers rejected & persecuted all of the prophets and killed them (7:35, 52).

9. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • God’s Word truly is “the living oracles” (7:38)! • It is from “the living God” (14:15; Heb. 3:12) and it gives life (Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:23). • God gives patterns for how He wants things done to be pleasing to Him (cf. 2 Tim. 1:13). • The Most High does not dwell in buildings but in the hearts of His people (John 14:23).

10. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Stephen’s inspired defense closed with a severe and stinging rebuke (7:51-53). • “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!” (7:51) – stubborn pagans! • “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (7:52). • “You now have become the betrayers and murders” of your own Messiah (7:52). • You “have received the law…and have not kept it” (7:53).

11. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Stephen’s sermon enraged his accusers to violence & an illegal mob execution (7:54-60). • His hearers were “cut to the heart” (sawn asunder with anger like 5:33, not 2:37). • They gnashed at him with their teeth (7:54), cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, rushed at him, cast him out of the city & “were stoning” him (7:57-58). • The 70-member Sanhedrin council led the way. • Young Saul was present, approving of the action and standing guard (7:58).

12. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Stephen’s sermon enraged his accusers to violence & an illegal mob execution (7:54-60). • As the first martyr for the cause of Christ, Stephen was remarkably focused! • He “gazed into heaven” & saw “Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (7:55-56). • He kept on calling on the Lord: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (7:59). • He knelt down in reverence: “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (7:60). • There are remarkable parallels between events in Stephen’s death & Jesus’ death. • This first killing of a Christian led to “a great persecution against the church” (8:1).

13. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • There is life after death (7:59-60). • When the body dies, the spirit separates from the body and survives (cf. Jas. 2:26). • The spirit of the faithful will be with the Lord (Phil. 1:23) and conscious (Rev. 6:9-11). • By means of His resurrection, Jesus is Lord of both the dead & the living (cf. Ro. 14:9).

14. III. Practical Points of Application for Our Lives • God is with us at all times and will deliver us out of the troubles and trials of life! • How absurd it is to elevate and serve the work of our own hands over the Almighty God! • In times of trouble, may God help us to look to Jesus and set our sights on things above! • Stephen did not waver in his trust in the Lord! May we not waver in our trust in Him!