Acts 7

Written on 05/10/2024

Overview:

  1. Stephen knew his Bible and was able to show it. He knew whole stories, not just biblical principles.

  • As a believer yourself, know your way around the Bible. Read anywhere in the Bible or take time to read through the Bible, continually, so that you gain and keep a good overall understanding of the Bible's contents. This will help you be a better communicator of the Word.

  1. Stephen finished his speech by saying, “...You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). All of his words up to this moment are meant to prove this point. We will look at his preaching from this standpoint.

 

Verses 1-50

  • Verses 1-43. This entire portion of verses summarizes the story of how God put in great effort to make a people that would serve and love Him. He worked to bring Abraham and his descendants into Canaan, then into Egypt, and then out of Egypt into the wilderness of Sinai, to begin serving Him. But when they finally got there, with Moses faithfully encouraging them, still they complained and resisted God.

  • Verses 44-50. They eventually settled in Canaan. Then, after they spent centuries longer in Canaan, continuing to rebel against God, David came along and desired for God to have a dwelling amongst His people, again, so that they could serve Him. 

    • But, after David's son, Solomon, built the temple, they rebelled again and worshipped idols, even turning the temple into a place of pagan worship.

 

Verses 51-53

  • All God wanted was to dwell with His people and fill them with His Spirit, but they always resisted Him. And now, during the days of Acts, the Israelites were again resisting the work of the Holy Spirit by rejecting Jesus.

  • Stephen was trying to prove to the people that even though they knew the sins of their ancestors, they were repeating those same sins. He was using their history to show them their patterns of sin—that they were no different from their rebellious forefathers. 

    • Use the Bible to convict people who claim that they believe the Bible. Prove that they are sinning from the book that they boast of. This is very convicting, and it can help people repent. 

 

 

Verses 54-60

  • After Stephen said these things, they knew their guilt, and they were convicted in their hearts. But, instead of repenting, they killed Stephen for his words.

  • Verse 56. Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. This was God's way of showing Stephen that He approved of his speech, even though he was killed for it.

    • It is good to preach what convicts people of their sin. Do this, and do it out of love. But this does not mean that people will repent afterward. Sometimes they will be angered, but this is ok. Your obedience is what matters.

  • Verse 60. But when people are angered at you, do not be angry at them. Like Stephen, pray for them, and to be forgiven by God if possible.