2. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

3. Main theme of Acts

4. More importantly the main theme of Acts is the Expansion of Christianity across geographic and ethnic lines.

5. Acts 6-10

6. Chapter 8, Philip’s conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch and the Samaritans

7. Acts 6-10 Chapter 8, Philip’s conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch and the Samaritans Chapter 10, Peter’s conversion of Cornelius and the first true Gentiles

8. Acts 6-10 Chapter 8, Philip’s conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch and the Samaritans Chapter 10, Peter’s conversion of Cornelius and the first true Gentiles Chapters 6-7, Stephen the first Martyr

9. Church Consisted of All Je Church Consisted of All Jews

10. Grecian Jews Jews born outside the Holy Land Jews born outside the Holy Land Spoke Greek Spoke Greek More Greek in attitudes and customs More Greek in attitudes and customs

11. Church Consisted of All Je Church Consisted of All Jews Grecian Jews Jews born outside the Holy Land Jews born outside the Holy Land Spoke Greek Spoke Greek More Greek in attitudes and customs More Greek in attitudes and customs Hebraic Jews Born in Holy Land Born in Holy Land Spoke Palestinian Aramaic and Hebrew Spoke Palestinian Aramaic and Hebrew Maintained Jewish culture and customs Maintained Jewish culture and customs

12. Three Key Attributes of Stephen

13. 1. Stephen’s Character

14. Three Key Attributes of Stephen 1. Stephen’s Character Acts 6:3 “…pick out from among you seven men of good repute…” (ESV)

15. Three Key Attributes of Stephen 1. Stephen’s Character Acts 6:3 “…pick out from among you seven men of good repute…” (ESV) Acts 6:5 “…They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;”

16. Three Key Attributes of Stephen 1. Stephen’s Character Acts 6:3 “…pick out from among you seven men of good repute…” (ESV) Acts 6:5 “…They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;” “To be filled with the Spirit is to obey fully God’s will.” MacArthur

17. Three Key Attributes of Stephen

18. 2. Stephen’s Courage

19. Three Key Attributes of Stephen 2. Stephen’s Courage Acts 6:8-10 “Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

20. Stephen’s Address Acts 7:1-53

21. There is progress and change in God’s Program

22. Stephen’s Address Acts 7:1-53 There is progress and change in God’s Program – The Promise to Abraham vv.2-8

23. Stephen’s Address Acts 7:1-53 There is progress and change in God’s Program – The Promise to Abraham vv.2-8 – The Sojourn of Joseph vv.9-16

24. Stephen’s Address Acts 7:1-53 There is progress and change in God’s Program – The Promise to Abraham vv.2-8 – The Sojourn of Joseph vv.9-16 – The deliverance under Moses vv.17-43

25. Stephen’s Address Acts 7:1-53 There is progress and change in God’s Program – The Promise to Abraham vv.2-8 – The Sojourn of Joseph vv.9-16 – The deliverance under Moses vv.17-43 – The building of the tabernacle vv.44-46

26. Stephen’s Address Acts 7:1-53 There is progress and change in God’s Program – The Promise to Abraham vv.2-8 – The Sojourn of Joseph vv.9-16 – The deliverance under Moses vv.17-43 – The building of the tabernacle vv.44-46 – The construction of the temple vv.47-50

27. Stephen’s Address Acts 7:1-53

28. The blessings of God are not limited The blessings of God are not limited

29. Stephen’s Address Acts 7:1-53 The blessings of God are not limited The blessings of God are not limited Israel has a pattern of opposition against God and His men Israel has a pattern of opposition against God and His men

30. Three Key Attributes of Stephen

31. 3. Stephen’s Confidence

32. Three Key Attributes of Stephen 3. Stephen’s Confidence Acts 7: 55-56, “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

33. Assessing Your Life

34. What is your goal in life?

35. Assessing Your Life What is your goal in life? To have the longest, safest, most secure and comfortable life you can have? To have the longest, safest, most secure and comfortable life you can have?

36. Assessing Your Life What is your goal in life? To have the longest, safest, most secure and comfortable life you can have? To have the longest, safest, most secure and comfortable life you can have? Or to have a lasting spiritual impact on others for Jesus Christ. Or to have a lasting spiritual impact on others for Jesus Christ.

37. Assessing Your Life What is your goal in life? To have the longest, safest, most secure and comfortable life you can have? To have the longest, safest, most secure and comfortable life you can have? Or to have a lasting spiritual impact on others for Jesus Christ. Or to have a lasting spiritual impact on others for Jesus Christ. “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it” Mark 8:35

38. Assessing Your Life

39. Each of us has a unique opportunity to display God’s power and goodness through our lives including our sufferings!

40. Assessing Your Life Each of us has a unique opportunity to display God’s power and goodness through our lives including our sufferings! “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28