1. Stephen among his enemies
Looking at Acts 7

2. V1 “Is this true?” The charges have been read Are you against Moses?
Are you against Jewish tradition?
Do you stand for the destruction of the Temple?
Are you blaspheming ?
Looking at Acts 7

3. Stephen's speech represents Luke's description of Christianity's break from its Jewish matrix. Two motifs become prominent in the speech:
(Acts 7:1) Israel's reaction to God's chosen leaders in the past reveals that the people have consistently rejected them;
and (Acts 7:2) Israel has misunderstood God's choice of the Jerusalem temple as the place where he is to be worshiped.
Looking at Acts 7

4. Stephen saw it as the same story
We tend to think of Christianity as being a radical departure from Judaism… a “new” testament
Stephen saw it as the same story
Looking at Acts 7

5. So how had the Jews got it so wrong?
They didn’t listen to the prophets in times gone by…
They didn’t receive Jesus in Stephen’s day
They thought the high point of God’s revelation was the Temple
They didn’t see what the Temple represented
Looking at Acts 7

6. But were the charges true?
No! The exact opposite was the case
Stephen was showing
what Moses stood for…
where the traditions pointed….
what the Temple represented…
So who were the blasphemers?
Looking at Acts 7

7. Think of the Old Testament
A prophet like Moses ….
One who knows God and speaks for him
A priest like Melchizedek….
One who offers sacrifices for sins
A king like David
One who rules in authority
Looking at Acts 7

8. And then Jesus came…
“He came to his own people but they did not receive him.”
A prophet…. But also the WORD spoken
A priest … But also the SACRIFICE given
A king…But also the KINGDOM established
Looking at Acts 7

9. Stephen knew the truth…
Stephen knew the truth…. And the truth set him free in the midst of his enemies
He died for this truth
A truth about God
A truth about You
A truth about life
Looking at Acts 7

10. What is the truth that sets you free?
The truth about God…
He loves you, irrespective of where you’ve been and what you’ve done
The truth about you…
You are built for eternity. There is something wonderful about you. You are made in the image of God
The truth about life…
Your life has eternal significance! Eternity is real.
Looking at Acts 7