Acts 7:1-8 Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham
“Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”
And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’ Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’ Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.
Acts 7:9-16 The Patriarchs in Egypt
“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers. And they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.”
Stephen is facing interrogation by the high priest because representatives from the Synagogue of the Freedmen have laid a complaint. “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”
When the high priest asks if these allegations are true, Stephen begins a summary of God’s working throughout the history of the Jewish people. Why does Stephen do this? Remember, Stephen isn’t saying these things by himself, for the Holy Spirit is inspiring Stephen. Even though the religious authorities are certain that they can out-argue Stephen, they are failing to appreciate the effect of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This speech by Stephen is going to have an enormous influence on everyone listening, including a Jewish scholar named Saul of Tarsus.
Why does Luke record Stephen’s entire speech? The Holy Spirit wants every word that Stephen speaks to be recorded, not only for those in New Testament times but for all the generations to come. Stephen describes a shining record of faith that will inspire believers for all time. Due to the length of Stephen’s speech, we will continue it tomorrow. But the take-home lesson for us is this: We can be inspired by the Holy Spirit and say everything He wants us to say and still be persecuted. Sometimes, we are not rewarded on earth but only rewarded in heaven. But heavenly rewards are eternal. Let us keep our eyes fixed on heavenly goals, not on earthly ones.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to always listen to the Holy Spirit, regardless of the circumstances. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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