The Acts of the Apostles Acts 7 – Stephen’s Defense Acts 7:1-2 – “And the high priest said, Are these things so? And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken …” Sunday – January 8, 2017 Many of the slides used in this presentation are prepared by Joe Price and are used and adapted with his permission.

Reaction, 7:54-60 Sanhedrin is outraged and out of control, Acts 7:54, 57-58 (5:33) Murder Stephen (Saul is consenting), 8:1 Stephen in control, Acts 7:55-56 Vision of God’s glory (cf. Ezekiel 1:28) Vision of Jesus at God’s right hand, glorified and exalted. (Psalms 110:1; Acts 2:33-36; 5:31). Faith and forgiveness, Acts 7:59-60

Conclusion: 1. Stephen faced the hour of trial with firm faith as he gave a faithful rebuke of sin. It cost him his life, but he gained eternal life. 2. May our faith never waver, but rise to the same plane of courage, to speak the truth with all boldness and to sacrifice ourselves so that Christ is magnified in us.

Worksheet On Acts Chapter 7 SUMMARIZE: 7:1-2 7:3-50 7:51-53 7:54-60

Worksheet On Acts Chapter 7 IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE: Righteous one – Saul – Stephen –

Worksheet On Acts Chapter 7 QUESTIONS: What question did the high priest ask Stephen? What history did Stephen relate in making his defense? Outline and be able to review in class the history Stephen relates. 4. What does Stephen charge his listeners with?

Worksheet On Acts Chapter 7 5. What question does Stephen ask them? 6. What had their forefathers been guilty of? 7. What function does Stephen say the prophets served? 8. What does Stephen now call his audience?

Worksheet On Acts Chapter 7 9. What effect did Stephen's speech have on his listeners? a. About whom have we read before in Acts who was affected in a similar way by preaching? 10. With what was Stephen filled? 11. As Stephen looked up into heaven, what did he see? 12. What did Stephen say?

Worksheet On Acts Chapter 7 13. What effect did this have on the people? 14. To whom are we then introduced, about whom we read a great deal in Acts? 15. What did the people do with Stephen?

Worksheet On Acts Chapter 7 16. What was Stephen saying as they stoned him? 17. What did Stephen pray? a. Can you recall the prayer of another who was dying, which is similar to that of Stephen? 18. How does the Bible sometimes describe death? 1 Corinthians 15:51; I Thessalonians 4:14-15; Acts 7:60.

The Acts of the Apostles Acts 8 – The Persecuted Preach Christ Acts 8:1-4 – “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles … They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word.” Sunday – January 8, 2017 Many of the slides used in this presentation are prepared by Joe Price and are used and adapted with his permission.

Acts 8 Acts 8:1: Attempts to stop the message Threats, 4:17-18. Imprisonment, 5:17-18. Beatings, 5:40. Disputing, 6:9-10. Lies and false witnesses, 6:13. Violence against the innocent, 7:57-58; 8:3. Yet, the gospel and its messengers were not stopped, Acts 8:4 (5:39); Matthew 5:10-12.

Acts 8 Philip (8:5) takes the gospel to (the) city of Samaria. 30 miles North of Jerusalem. Jesus traveled this area (John 4:4; Luke 17:11).

Acts 1:8 Phoenicia, Cyprus, Antioch, and Syria – Acts 11:19 Rome Romans 17:7 Acts 1:8