The Acts of the Apostles 7:1-60
In the previous chapter, Stephen was accused of contradicting the law of Moses (written of in the 5 first books of the Old Testament). In this chapter, Stephen will explain why the accusation is unfounded.
7:1 The high priest is referring to Acts 6:14 of the previous chapter in which Stephan's false witnesses accused him of making the statement that Jesus would "destroy" and "change the customs" of Moses.
Moses was a faithful man of our God and Jesus did not change or alter but enhance the compassionate and instructive message God (through Moses) brought to the world preceding Jesus' presence here.
7:2 Stephan begins the account of the truth, written of in Genesis 12:1. It is the account of Abraham become a faithful child of God and blessed because of it.
7:3 Abraham trusted God to lead him (and generations of descendants) out of tribulation; by faith he walked rather than sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7.
7:4-5 God's divine intervention in Abraham's life was only made possible by Abraham's trust in God. God led Abraham on a journey from nothing to everything. This promise was made to Abraham but also to the lineage of faithful children who would come from Abraham (yes, extending to us and into today's world).
7:6-7 God's omniscience allowed him to inform Abraham of the journey his descendants would take. Moreover, God promised to be with them and also to be against their adversaries.
7:8 God gave Abraham the health law of circumcision, because heath standards at the time were a lot different from now -- and a healthy lineage required the custom. Through Abraham came Isaac, Jacob and through Jacob the 12 tribes which have branched out (and further subdivided) into the world as tribes, regions, nations, cultures and peoples. And truly this earth was given to us.
7:9 Stephen's account continues into Genesis 37, in which Joseph was sold by his brothers out of their jealously.
7:10 Yet God promised (and continues to uphold His promised) to always protect and guide His children. Joseph, like his ancestor Abraham, was faithful and a good, compassionate person -- God always delivers such people out of adversity.
7:11 Joseph's wisdom (given by God as protection) allowed and arranged for him to become beloved in Egypt (where he originally entered as a slave).
7:12-14 Joseph's return to his family was a shock to those who betrayed him -- they expected him to fail but no faithful child of God ever does. Why? Because faith is the permission we give God to intervene in our lives -- and God's intervention is perfect.
7:15-16 The lesson here is that God's family are always together -- no matter how craftily or manipulatively people plan and plot against them, God's plan comes into fruition, succeeds and gathers His children together.
7:17 Stephen's address moves forward into the account of Moses' birth, Exodus 2. As we (and likely the high priest) can deduce, Stephen is well-versed in the Old Testament despite accusations to the contrary. Stephan knows the Old Testament (history) so well because He was taught it, believes it and works everyday to enhance that message with what Jesus added to it.
7:18-21 We are going to begin to sense a theme (if we haven't already) where God's faithful children (and prophets specifically) are frequently faced with much adversity (right from birth). They always rise out of it.
7:22-29 Moses was raised with the Egyptians but realized as an adult that the peoples he was originally born to were enslaved. These verses referenced are from Exodus 2:14-15. Moses notices that the slaves were fighting each other rather than their common enemy -- but rather than absorb his advice, the people turn on Moses and he flees.
Side note: Rest assured, we will eventually study the Old Testament in detail!
7:30-32 God introduced Himself to Moses (quite fantastically) and identified Himself as the God of Moses' ancestors. (Any faithful person is an ancestor -- but Moses' lineage is of Abraham).
7:33-36 God appoints Moses as the human through which He would bring justice into the world. (And quite funnily, Moses was at first terrified at the prospect of having such responsibility) but he was successful, of course.
7:37 Jesus Himself is specifically foretold here by Moses. The Prophet, Jesus, coming to earth in the flesh.
7:36-43 These verses reference one of the very many times when people diverged from God and went their own way, worshiping false gods and, power, and money.
7:36-43 These verses reference one of the very many times when people diverged from God and went their own way, worshiping false gods and, power, and money.
7:44-50 It is being explained that God does not require or reside in anything made by human ingenuity, no matter how impressive. The creator of all things, even the universe(s) wants for us to understand that we can only house our faith, love and trust in Him in our hearts and spirits. We cannot worship a thing or idea -- we cannot ascribe godliness or holiness to an object or person.
7:51-53 Throughout history prophets have been trampled down. Stephen calls them to be logical and to accurate assess their history and their actions. Remember our study in Luke 20:9-19, the Parable of the Wicked Vine-dressers -- in which God explains that He has sent prophet after prophet to earth to bring peace but each has been treated cruelly and brutally and has been killed despite their service to humanity.
7:54 We exit Stephen's explanation and journey through history (theirs and ours). We return to the reaction of the high priest and his officials and they are perturbed. They cannot logically argue against Stephen's truthful account of their own history and their own religion that they claim* to follow. They are speechless due to their hypocrisy.
7:55-56 Yet Stephen was filled with God's love and wisdom and God was (is) so proud of Stephen for delivering this much needed, truthful message to his adversaries. Stephen's faith and bravery in faith was brilliantly recognized and loved by God. Together, Jesus and God reaffirmed Stephen and stood beside Him in spirit and heart.
This same message has needed to be delivered to corrupt rulers throughout history (today's time not excluded) and God prepares His children for that abundantly Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Revelation and elsewhere in the Bible. The world needs and has always needed God's children to bring truth and compassion to humanity's adversaries -- be brave, be faithful, God is with you as you deliver and live His message. I speak specifically of Mark 13:9 when certain of God's children will be called to deliver (in the same manner) the same message as Stephen in this chapter.
7:57-58 As enemies frequently neglect to do, Stephen's adversaries refuse to accept his truth as well as refuse to find compassion in their hearts and they attack him. There are people desperate and greedy enough to tear down the kind to retain their wealth and power.
7:59 Stephen was about to leave the earth -- which is never a death for God's children. He was about to join God in heaven, and having fulfilled a beautiful purpose on earth, he certainly deserved to. Delivering the message to humanity, Stephen was not scared. In facing his adversaries, Stephen was not scared. Facing death on earth, Stephen was not scared. Throughout his life and purpose Stephen remained faithful and determined, compassionate and humble. Throughout the process of his departure from earth, Stephen called to His father, our father to be received by Him through the path Jesus constructed.
7:60 Stephen's compassion and humility is so pure and abundant -- even as they reject, harm and kill him, Stephen asks God to forgive them. Stephen has compassion and forgiveness for their cruelty and their ignorance, for their enslavement to greed and cruelty.
Stephen fell asleep, he transitioned into the spirit. He joined God. God's children do not die.
7:55-56 Yet Stephen was filled with God's love and wisdom and God was (is) so proud of Stephen for delivering this much needed, truthful message to his adversaries. Stephen's faith and bravery in faith was brilliantly recognized and loved by God. Together, Jesus and God reaffirmed Stephen and stood beside Him in spirit and heart.
This same message has needed to be delivered to corrupt rulers throughout history (today's time not excluded) and God prepares His children for that abundantly Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Revelation and elsewhere in the Bible. The world needs and has always needed God's children to bring truth and compassion to humanity's adversaries -- be brave, be faithful, God is with you as you deliver and live His message. I speak specifically of Mark 13:9 when certain of God's children will be called to deliver (in the same manner) the same message as Stephen in this chapter.
7:57-58 As enemies frequently neglect to do, Stephen's adversaries refuse to accept his truth as well as refuse to find compassion in their hearts and they attack him. There are people desperate and greedy enough to tear down the kind to retain their wealth and power.
7:59 Stephen was about to leave the earth -- which is never a death for God's children. He was about to join God in heaven, and having fulfilled a beautiful purpose on earth, he certainly deserved to. Delivering the message to humanity, Stephen was not scared. In facing his adversaries, Stephen was not scared. Facing death on earth, Stephen was not scared. Throughout his life and purpose Stephen remained faithful and determined, compassionate and humble. Throughout the process of his departure from earth, Stephen called to His father, our father to be received by Him through the path Jesus constructed.
7:60 Stephen's compassion and humility is so pure and abundant -- even as they reject, harm and kill him, Stephen asks God to forgive them. Stephen has compassion and forgiveness for their cruelty and their ignorance, for their enslavement to greed and cruelty.
Stephen fell asleep, he transitioned into the spirit. He joined God. God's children do not die.
