1. Stephen’s speech and martyrdom. Acts 6:8-7:60

2. Stephen’s speech and martyrdom. Acts 6:8-7:60 Stephen is accused of speaking against the temple and the law of Moses.

3. Stephen’s speech and martyrdom. Acts 6:8-7:60 Stephen is accused of speaking against the temple and the law of Moses. Stephen’s defense of himself has a couple of oddities.

4. Stephen’s speech and martyrdom. Acts 6:8-7:60 Stephen is accused of speaking against the temple and the law of Moses. Stephen’s defense of himself has a couple of oddities. *Stephen does not really defend himself. Instead, his speech sounds more like that of a prosecuting attorney.

5. Stephen’s speech and martyrdom. Acts 6:8-7:60 Stephen is accused of speaking against the temple and the law of Moses. Stephen’s defense of himself has a couple of oddities. *Stephen does not really defend himself. Instead, his speech sounds more like that of a prosecuting attorney. *Stephen recounts the history of Israel to a group of individuals already familiar with it.

6. How serious is sin?

7. How much can sin impact us?

8. Stephen begins with God’s call to Abraham.

9. “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. ‘Leave your country and your people,’ Harran. ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’ Acts 7:2-3 (ESV) Acts 7:2-3 (ESV)

10. Stephen begins with God’s call to Abraham. Abraham lives in Ur: a city full of pagan idolaters. God’s call lifts Abraham out of this situation.

11. Stephen begins with God’s call to Abraham. Abraham lives in Ur: a city full of pagan idolaters. God’s call lifts Abraham out of this situation. God’s call to Abraham would begin a process by which God would offer salvation to the entire world.

12. Stephen then discusses Joseph

13. Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. his palace. Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. not find food.

14. Stephen then discusses Joseph When Jacob heard that there was When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. On their second visit, Joseph told his first visit. On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. about Joseph’s family. Acts 7:9-13 (ESV) Acts 7:9-13 (ESV)

15. Stephen then discusses Joseph Stephen’s point here is that the forefathers of his audience had failed to recognize Joseph.

16. Stephen then discusses Joseph Stephen’s point here is that the forefathers of his audience had failed to recognize Joseph. It was not until Joseph revealed himself, that they realized it was him.

17. Stephen then discusses Joseph Stephen’s point here is that the forefathers of his audience had failed to recognize Joseph. It was not until Joseph revealed himself, that they realized it was him. Indeed, they had spent most of their time fighting against him and God.

18. Stephen moves on to discuss Moses

19. “When Moses was forty years old, he decided “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. He saw one to visit his own people, the Israelites. He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. The next day Moses them, but they did not. The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’ other?’

20. Stephen moves on to discuss Moses “But the man who was mistreating the other “But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ Acts 7:23-28 (ESV) Acts 7:23-28 (ESV)

21. Stephen moves on to discuss Moses “When Moses was forty years old, he decided “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. He saw one to visit his own people, the Israelites. He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. The next day Moses them, but they did not. The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’ other?’

22. Stephen moves on to discuss Moses Once again the people of Israel fail to recognize that God was working amongst them.

23. Stephen moves on to discuss Moses “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who to Egypt. They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ That was the time they made happened to him!’ That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. But God turned away from hands had made. But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. sun, moon and stars. Acts 7:39-42 Acts 7:39-42

24. Stephen moves on to discuss Moses Once again the people of Israel fail to recognize that God was working amongst them. When they rejected Moses a second time, God returned them to the condition that Abraham had been in prior to God’s call.

25. Stephen concludes by pointing out their pattern

26. Stephen concludes by pointing out their pattern “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” angels but have not obeyed it.” Acts 7:51-53 (ESV) Acts 7:51-53 (ESV)

27. Stephen concludes by pointing out their pattern The Jews consistently failed to recognize God’s messengers. Also, they had persecuted them when they came.

28. What does this passage call us to do?

29. We view sin as either not a problem or something that victimizes us.

30. What does this passage call us to do? We view sin as either not a problem or something that victimizes us. We should recognize our tendency to fall in love with sin.

31. What does this passage call us to do? We view sin as either not a problem or something that victimizes us. We should recognize our tendency to fall in love with sin. When we have fallen in love with sin, our tendency is to reject God’s message and messenger.

32. What does this passage call us to do? We view sin as either not a problem or something that victimizes us. We should recognize our tendency to fall in love with sin. When we have fallen in love with sin, our tendency is to reject God’s message and messenger. We need to have a soft heart and listen to God’s call.

33. The story concludes with Stephen’s death. At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. fell asleep. Acts 7:57-60 (ESV) Acts 7:57-60 (ESV)

34. What does the Bible say about Stephen?

35. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit... Now Stephen, a man full of God’s Holy Spirit... Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Acts 6:5, 8-10 (ESV) Acts 6:5, 8-10 (ESV)

36. The story concludes with Stephen’s death. At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. fell asleep. Acts 7:57-60 (ESV) Acts 7:57-60 (ESV)

37. The story concludes with Stephen’s death. At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. fell asleep. Acts 7:57-60 (ESV) Acts 7:57-60 (ESV)

38. What can we say about God’s activities?

39. Our sin is powerful and a grave and serious matter.

40. What can we say about God’s activities? Our sin is powerful and a grave and serious matter. God’s grace is greater than our sin.