Stephens Defense of the Gospel of Christ Stephens

Stephen’s Defense of the Gospel of Christ

Stephen’s Arrest • Brought before Sanhedrin and falsely accused of blasphemy, Acts 6: 10 -15; 7: 1 -1 Pet. 3: 15 • JESUS: GOD’S PROMISES FULFILLED – MOSES, whom their fathers rejected, spoke of the Christ and said to hear Him, Acts 7: 37 – GOD delivered Israel and sent the Messiah 2

Stephen’s Arrest • Brought before Sanhedrin and falsely accused of blasphemy, Acts 6: 10 -15; 7: 1 -1 Pet. 3: 15 • JESUS: GOD’S PROMISES FULFILLED – THE TEMPLE in which Israel gloried is not God’s dwelling place (the church of Christ, Isa. 2: 2 -3; Eph. 2: 21 -22) – LAW OF MOSES, which they continually rejected, brought believing Jews to Jesus, Gal. 3: 24 -25 3

Stephen’s Arrest • Brought before Sanhedrin and falsely accused of blasphemy, Acts 6: 10 -15; 7: 1 -1 Pet. 3: 15 • JESUS: GOD’S PROMISES FULFILLED • They were filling up the measure of their fathers’ guilt by rejecting the Christ, Matt. 23: 29 -36 4

Israel’s History Confirms Gospel (1 -50) • God’s promises, Acts 7: 2 -3, 5, 17 – Land, Gen. 12: 1, 5 -7 – Nation, Gen. 12: 2 – Seed to bless all nations, Gen. 12: 3 • God’s covenant of circumcision, Acts 7: 8; Gen. 17: 1 -11 5

God and Israel (9 -47) God’s Deliverance Israel’s Rejection • JOSEPH, Acts 7: 9 -10; Gen. 39: 1 -2, 21 -23 • JACOB’S HOUSE, Ac 7: 11 -16; Gen. 41: 32 -41 • MOSES & ISRAEL, Acts 7: 17 -20, 25, 36 • CANAAN, Acts 7: 45; Psa. 44: 1 -3 • HATED and SOLD by his brothers • Obtained MERCY, Gen. 50: 17 -21 • First REJECTED Moses, Ac 7: 25, 39 • STIFF-NECKED, Acts 7: 36, 39 -41; Exo. 32: 1 -10 6

God and Israel (9 -47) God’s Deliverance Israel’s Rejection • GOD, Acts 7: 34, 4243; Amos 5: 25 -27 • HOLY SPIRIT • IDOLATERS punished by God • RESISTED, Acts 7: 51 – Prophets, Acts 7: 52; 2 Chrn. 36: 15 – Law of Moses, Acts 7: 53; Matt. 23: 1 -3; 15: 3 -9 – Mocked and killed the prophets, 2 Chrn. 36: 16 – DISOBEYED the law, Acts 7: 38 -41 • MESSIAH, Acts 7: 37 – DENIED, MURDERED Acts 7: 52 7

Learning from Israel’s History, 7: 51 • Knowing history is not the same as learning from it, Acts 7: 51 -52, 25 • God keeps His word even when men reject Him (Rom. 3: 4) • God delivers the faithful and punishes the wicked (2 Pet. 2: 9) 8

God is not Restricted 7: 44 -50 • The land the law, 7: 45; 17: 26 • God not confined by man, 7: 48 -50 – Tabernacle, 7: 44 – Temple of Solomon, 7: 46 -47 – These never contained God! – Served God’s purposes for Israel, then were removed by God, Matt. 23: 38 -24: 2 • God’s temple—Church, Eph. 2: 21 -22 9

God is not Restricted 7: 44 -50 • God’s Christ is for the world (not just nation of Israel), Gen. 12: 3 – God’s promise was to bless all nations, Gal. 3: 14 – Christ’s commission to preach salvation to the whole world was just beginning, Mark 16: 15 10

Summary, 7: 51 -53 • Stephen charged the council with rejecting the Messiah – Rejecting Christ is a heart problem, 7: 51 – God pleaded with Israel to circumcise their heart and acknowledge His power and deliverance, Deut. 10: 14 -22 – Their fathers failed to do so, and now they joined their fathers in rebellion against God 11

Reaction, 7: 54 -60 • Sanhedrin is outraged and out of control, Acts 7: 54, 57 -58 (5: 33) – Murder Stephen (Saul is consenting), 8: 1 • Stephen in control, Acts 7: 55 -56 – Vision of God’s glory (cf. Ezek. 1: 28) – Vision of Jesus at God’s right hand – Faith and forgiveness, Acts 7: 59 -60 12