Title [Acts 7:51-53] Stephen's Testimony
False witnesses who had been bought by the Jews sued Stephen before the council. The charge was blasphemy against God and Moses. To be more specific, I spoke against this holy place (temple) and the law, and I heard that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy this temple and change the ordinances (law) delivered by Moses. The high priest questioned whether this was true, and the answer to this question is the text of the text. Stephen's answer (testimony) is, in fact, a sermon, and there is nothing wrong with it. Now, let's take a look at Stephen's answer and receive grace.
1. Lessons from Abraham (2-8)
In front of the Jews who had taken the Mosaic Law as absolute, Stephen deliberately referred to Abraham, the father of faith, at the outset. Abraham was called purely by God's grace, and he testified that he believed and obeyed God's promise that his descendants would be saved and settled in the land of Canaan after living as a sojourner for four hundred years and being harassed. This testimony of Stephen is a shocking declaration to the Jews, especially the legalists, who regarded the Law (Moses) as absolute. More important than the written law is its spirit. In response to a lawyer's question about the great commandment, Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself." And these two commands are all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:35-40). We must become believers who value the spirit of love rather than the written law.
2. Lessons from Joseph (8-16)
3. Lessons from Moses (17-38)
Following Abraham and Joseph, the person Stephen introduced was Moses, whom the Jews held sacred. The point is to prove that Moses did not become a great leader because of his personal wisdom or ability, but it was God's grace and providence. In other words, Moses also killed an Egyptian because of blood, felt threatened by his own people, realized that he was an ordinary man who saved his life by fleeing to Midian, and God called him, who was humbled through a trial in the wilderness , and appointed him as the savior of Israel. It is proof that it was fulfilled in the covenant). It is a revuke not to worship Moses or the law given through him. No creature in the world can be worshiped. Let us remember that only God is the object of worship.
4. Rebukes for Temple Worship (39-50)