Stephen Accused
Luke 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luke 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
Acts 7:1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
The accusations from the Supreme Council in the temple at Jerusalem;
Acts 6:13 And (they) set up false witnesses, this man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
Acts 6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
In other words, this new faith threatens our high positions of power.
Stephen only wanted to speak the truth, by the Spirit of truth; the Spirit begins to speak, perhaps Stephen was not sure of what he would say, but the Spirit of God spoke the truth for all who would hear.
He begins with Abraham; What is his point of focus? That the world and those used by satan oppose the purposes of God. Faith and God's purposes are opposed by worldly men, even the Jews, and by the spirits of darkness,
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Abraham
Acts 7:2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
Acts 7:3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.
Separate yourself from the world and their false gods, and follow the true God to a new land.
Acts 7:4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
Abraham believed God and obeyed by faith. Perhaps the pharisee Saul was listening, for later having become the apostle Paul he repeats this message in the epistle to the Hebrews. (Assuming Paul wrote Hebrews)
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
This heavenly city was described in Revelation 21:10 - 22:5
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Acts 7:5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
Abraham believed the promises of God and the promise was to his seed, Jesus.
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
This was righteous faith. His offspring would inherit a land in Canaan and he with them who believed would go to the Holy city of God, as will all children of faith in God's promises. In Jesus Christ we are children of the inheritance.
2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in him (Jesus) are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
If the concil had have known God, they would have received his son Jesus. Many priests of the faith had received him, yet those in power, wanted only power.
Prophecy of bondage and deliverance The Story of Joseph
Acts 7:6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. (Genesis 15:13)
They would go to Egypt where Joseph would give them land and food. Then a new king would arise that would make slaves of the children of promise for 400 years.
Acts 7:7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
To judge in the sense of punishment to a stubborn and stiff necked people. Moses was a type of Christ delivering his people from the bondage of Egypt, a symbol of the world and the devil.
(Cf) Exodus 4:2 As Moses' rod was the rod of power, the rod of the King Deuteronomy 33:4,5 so Aaron's was the rod of life, the rod of the Priest. As here the serpents, symbols of Satan, who had the power of death ; Revelation 12:9; Hebrews 2:14 are swallowed up, so in resurrection death will be "swallowed up in victory" ; 1 Corinthians 15:54; Numbers 17:8. (Scofield)
Exo 9:13 And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Exo 9:14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
Exo 9:15 For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
Exo 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
Ten plagues, matching ten gods worshipped by Egyptians were given the plagues; the Nile river was turned to blood, frogs and lice were everywhere. Stinging flies, cattle were plagued, boils. Hail that burned as fire, locusts, darkness and the worst, the death of the firstborn. Only those with the lambs blood on the doorposts were spared, thus began the passover celebrations. The death angel passed over the dwellings where the blood of the lamb was applied. The power of darkness cannot come into the dwelling where the lambs blood is applied. Jesus is the lamb, his blood covers our dwelling places, our bodies. The children of promise were kept from the wrath of God, even as we are his children and are in his grace, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 7:8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
Circumcision was a sign of the Abrahamic covenant for the Jews. It is not required for non-Jewish Christians. Jesus kept all the ceremonial laws of the Jews. They no longer apply to us.
The twelve foundational patriarchs, fathers of the twelve tribes are listed. They are symbolic of the twelve apostles, upon whom Jesus would contine the foundation of a New Covenant. Remember the apostles added to the foundation which was Christ, by writings included in the Bible. Paul being the chief writer through the inspiration of God.
Betrayal of Joseph by his brothers
Acts 7:9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
Acts 7:10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Joseph was a type of Christ also, the beloved of the father who was sold (our redeemer) because of envy. It was for envy that Jesus, the Apostles and now Stephen were opposed by the leaders.
John 1:11 He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joseph the deliverer
Acts 7:11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
Acts 7:12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
Acts 7:13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.>br>
Acts 7:14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
They received their brother Joseph who was as a god to them and became part of his inheritance
John 1:12 But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Israel goes to Egypt
Acts 7:15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
Acts 7:16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
Acts 7:17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
Stephen, under the annointing of the Holy Ghost, is showing that he had great knowledge and respect for the law and history of his people. All point to a deliverer, a final deliverer which was the promised Messiah. Jesus was that deliverer.
Oppressing King
Acts 7:18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
Acts 7:19 The same dealt subtly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
The wicked ruler tried to kill the children of Moses' age as would happen later to the children of the age of the baby Jesus. Satan tries to kill off hope and the sent ones of God, even as children. But God delivers them, his purposes will become true, as his promises are true.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Acts 7:20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
Moses cared for by the Kings daughter
Acts 7:21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
Acts 7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
Acts 7:23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
Moses rejected by his own people
Acts 7:24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
Acts 7:25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
Acts 7:26 And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
Acts 7:27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
Acts 7:28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Moses called to deliver his people with signs and wonders
Acts 7:29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
Acts 7:30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
Acts 7:31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
Acts 7:32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
Acts 7:33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
Acts 7:34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
Acts 7:35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
Jesus also had suffered rejection and is the deliverer
Luke 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Acts 7:36 He brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
Patriarchs of faith; Abraham, Joseph and Moses. Each called by God with opposition from brothers and the world, yet they followed the will and promises of God. They were partakers of the sufferings of Christ and like Jesus were fulfilling God's plan of redemption. Jesus is the final deliverer, the final sacrifice for sins.
2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Tim 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Stoning of Stephen
Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
Those who accused Stephen of being against the "law" and the customs "Moses delivered" to them, listened as Stephen spoke the very words of Moses concerning a prophet who would come.
Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Deu 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
This prophet was the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke the words of God, which is what a true prophet will do.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
God will require obedience to his word. His word is filled with love for you.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Moses met with the angel of God on top of Mount Sinai, there he received the living oracles, the ten Commandments of God.
Acts 7:39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
The fathers of the people of Israel were rebellious and lacking faith, even disobeying Moses who spoke God's word to them.
Num 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:
Num 11:6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
Exo 14:11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
They were not a people of faith, but when told to go in to the promise land, they drew back in fear.
Num 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
Even as Moses was receiving the ten commandments of the law, the people with Aarons approval turned to other gods and danced in their naked shame.
Acts 7:40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
Acts 7:41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
Acts 7:42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
Acts 7:43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
Quoting from Amos;
Amos 5:25 Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
Amos 5:26 But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
They worshipped things made with their own hands and false gods, fallen angels.
Moloch, Molech = the name of the idol god of the Ammonites, to which human victims, particularly young children were offered in sacrifice.
Abortion is often termed as "offering to Molech", it certainly is not our God's will to kill the unborn children.
Remphan; the name of an idol worshipped secretly by the Israelites
The council accused Stephen of speaking against the temple, but the history of their people was filled with false idol worship, we are not to worship a dwelling, we are to worship the LORD. Today we do not worship our churches and denominations but we worship God.
Acts 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
Moses was given detailed instructions for building the Ark of the covenant.
Acts 7:45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus (Joshua) into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
The ark came into the promised land with Joshua.
Acts 7:46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
David wanted to build a house for the ark of the testimony, but God said he had blood on his hands.
2 Sam 7:5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
2 Sam 7:6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
Solomon his son would build a house of God, but the true house of God are those redeemed by God's son Jesus.
2 Sam 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
2 Sam 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
2 Sam 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
2 Sam 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
2 Sam 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
2 Sam 7:17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
Acts 7:47 But Solomon built him an house.
Acts 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
Acts 7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Acts 7:50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Isa 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Now Stephen speaks the word of God boldly, not fearing the outcome.
Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Repeating the words God spoke to their fathers;
Exo 32:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
He saw them as mere sinful men as were their fathers, not men of faith, nor men of God.
Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Your fathers killed the prophets who foretold of the coming of the "just one" Jesus the Messiah,"of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:" He holds them accountable, it is not he that is on trial, but they are exposed by God as being guilty sinners.
Acts 7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
They received the law by the angel on Mt. Sinai, pretending to be it's keepers they falsely manipulate and accuse God's witness. They were not keeping the laws they pretended to enforce.
Acts 7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
They became madmen, demon driven, grinding their teeth at him. The gnashing of teeth represents extreme distress as those who are placed in hell.
Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Several verses describe Jesus as sitting at the right hand of God.
Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Still, other verses just say he is at the right hand of the Father.
1 Pet 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
As Stephen spoke the Lord was standing, in Acts 7:55 and 56; perhaps looking with great love,while interceding for him and giving him his grace and blessings. We are not alone in our troubles, the Lord is with us.
1 Pet 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
The idea of being watched from above is conveyed in another verse in Hebrews;
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Acts 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
Acts 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
They were as there fathers, who when warned refused to hear;
2 Ki 17:13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
2 Ki 17:14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
Those who stoned Stephen laid their clothes, perhaps their cloaks, at the feet of a young Pharisee named Saul. Perhaps Saul would remember Stephen's testimony after Jesus revealed himself to him, changing his name to Paul.
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Following in death by evil men, Stephen by the Holy Ghost repeats the words of his savior.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Stephen became the first Christian martyr to follow in Jesus' steps. He slept, for in truth in Christ is everlasting life. When he awoke he was in the presence of Jesus. Hold on to this great hope, for in Christ Jesus is life eternal.
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Gary
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