Title Acts 07:1-53 Stephen's Sermon
Contents Stephen's Sermon (Acts 7: 1-53)
Many Jews argued with Stephen in the synagogue, but they could not resist Stephen, who spoke with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. They set up false witnesses and took Stephen to the council. There were three charges against Stephen: blasphemy against Moses and God, speaking against the holy place (temple) and the law, and saying that he would destroy the temple and change the ordinances of Moses.
Stephen's excuse for a false witness was an excellent sermon based on the Bible.
1. The Chosen Abraham
Stephen began his speech with the appearance of God to Abraham in Mesopotamia.
(1) God of glory: The false witness said that Stephen blasphemed God, but Stephen called the God who appeared to Abraham the God of glory.
(2) God's command: God commanded Abraham, "Leave your hometown and your relatives, and go to the land I will show you." Abraham obeyed God's word and moved to the land of Canaan (Hebrews 11:8).
(3) God's promise: Abraham moved to Canaan, but he did not have enough land to set foot in there, nor did he have children. But God promised to give the land to Abraham and his descendants as an inheritance. Abraham hoped in the midst of hopelessness and firmly believed in God's promises.
(4) Prophecy: God said that Abraham's descendants would be sojourners in another land, and they would become slaves for four hundred years and suffer afflictions. But he said that in due time they would come out of there and serve God in the land of Canaan.
(5) Covenant: God established the covenant of circumcision to convince him that Abraham was God's people, and his descendants were circumcised from generation to generation to confirm that they were God's people.
2. Israel Goes Down to Egypt
According to God's prophecy, Israel went down to Egypt to live as strangers or slaves.
(1) Joseph went down to Egypt: The sons of Jacob were jealous of Joseph and sold him to Egypt. Joseph suffered many afflictions in Egypt, but because God was with him, he eventually became the ruler of Egypt (Psalm 105:19).
(2) Israel went down to Egypt: The sons of Jacob who went to Egypt to buy food met Joseph, who became the prime minister. Joseph invited his relatives to Egypt.
(3) Tribulation: A new king, ignorant of Joseph, arose, tormented Israel and tried to annihilate Israel.
3. Moses the Savior
Moses, who was born during the tribulation period, hid in his father's house for three months and was abandoned, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him as an adopted child.
(1) Powerful Moses: Moses was able to speak and act as he learned all the sciences of Egypt.
(2) Failure: When Moses turned forty years old, he began to think of his own people. He killed an Egyptian in order to save his people from injustice. But his people did not understand him and accused him, so he fled to the land of Midian.
(3) Moses met God: After spending forty years in Midaan, Moses met God in the midst of the flames of thorns in the wilderness. "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob... The place where you stand with your sandals on your feet is holy ground."
(4) Mission: God heard the groaning of Israel who were tormented in Egypt and sent Moses to save them. Moses led Israel in Egypt, the Red Sea, and the wilderness, performing wonders and signs for forty years.
(5) Delivering the Law: Moses was a great prophet established by God and led the church in the wilderness and delivered the way of life. The false witnesses said that Stephen blasphemed Moses and said that he would change Moses' ordinances, but Stephen recognized Moses as a prophet and called the law the way of life.
4. Temple Construction
(1) The Temple of the Tabernacle: Moses built the Temple of the Tabernacle in the way God showed him. The tabernacle temple existed until the time of David.
(2) Solomon's Temple: David prepared many things for the building of the temple, and his son Solomon built it large and splendidly. But if heaven is God's throne and the earth is his footstool, what house can he build for God? But God puts his heart, his eyes, and his name on that temple, and he listens to those who pray there. He was speaking the truth and not against the temple.
5. Conclusion of Stephen's Sermon
The God of glory works in time, but the ancestors who were full of unbelief committed all kinds of evil. In the wilderness they worshiped the golden calf, the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of Repan. They persecuted the prophets and killed those who prophesied that the Messiah (the righteous) would come. And you captured the Messiah (the righteous) and killed him. You were the ones who received the law delivered by the angel and did not keep it.
* Stephen preached the Word clearly and correctly based on the Bible. Also, he did not deal with them emotionally and correctly pointed out the sins of the audience with an angelic face. Pray for the ministers of the Word to preach the Word with integrity and boldness (Ephesians 6:19)