Stephen’s Defense (Acts 7)

Introduction:

Context:

4 Charges: He speaks against God / Moses / Law / Temple

Blasphemers are to be executed

Stephen defends Himself against against all 4 accusations using the OT.

Text:

Outline:

He defends God

He defends Himself

He defends Truth

He defends his belief in the God of Israel

The God of glory… Psalm 29.

The God of glory whom guided the patriarchs and prophets is the same God of glory whom they crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:8 “the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;”

Stephen was able to see a glimpse of that glory… Acts 7:55 “55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;”

Concerning Abraham:

Romans 4:20 “20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,”

Leave your country… relatives. Is this not a call for the Jews to leave their country, relatives, and tradition to follow the commands of God?

He gave him no inheritance. The ground upon which Abraham stood was not his, yet a promise of inheritance was given. Upon the foundation of faith, believers look also towards a future inheritance, a fulfillment of God’s promise to those who love Him.

Even when he had no child. The sovereign God, with redemption in mind, promised and ordained a child to be born, pointing towards to coming Messiah.

I Myself will judge. Oh what demise shall come to the opposer of God’s true people of promise.

They would be enslaved and mistreated. Why? For the people to come out of bondage and serve the God of glory in Canaan, who demonstrated His lovingkindness to them.

The covenant of circumcision. This was God’s first covenant with man, Genesis 17:10 ““This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.”

It was a sign of God’s union, favor, and eternal covenant with His people

All Jews are sons of Abraham / Isaac / Jacob. He continues to identify with them. BUT… verse 9.

The patriarchs (as noble as you might think they are) became jealous and sold him into slavery.

Joseph was special… set apart by God

Reuben was the oldest of the 12, but forfeited birthright due to a crime. Joseph inherited the blessing… 1 Chron 5.

God designed Joseph to be set above the rest… Gen 37 he had a dream and said: .I had a dream I’m going to rise above all of you. God has ordained that I have a prominent place.

Yet the brothers fabricated his death… sold him into slavery.

They were blasphemers because scripture says the birthright belonged to Joseph!

They were sinful / prideful / rebellious!

Oh, what does Stephen MEAN? What is he SAYING?

That in the story of Joseph, there is an illustration being painted, of how fallible Jewish men, rebelled against God’s ultimate plan.

And how you Jews are no different.

History has repeated itself in your denial of God’s blessing!

It’s not ME who is blaspheming its you!

Acts 7:52 “52 “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;”

You have set yourself against the plan of god from the start.

Who are the true blasphemers?

Who are the true rebels?

The story of Joseph continues.

Yet God was with him. In facing near death, hardship, and familial estrangement, there is no greater comfort to the man of God than this, “Yet God was with him.” We would do well to rest and be strengthened in that truth.

Comparing Joseph to Jesus

Joseph was sold by his brothers… as Jesus was sold out from among His own Jewish brothers

Both were sold into affliction

Yet both were exalted and and rose to be the deliverer of the very same people who sold them into slavery!

Why verses 13-16?

75 came down to Egypt.

God’s promise to Abraham was TRUE.

Application:

1 Peter 3:15 “… always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…”

Apologetics. To give a defense or speak in defense of something. We must give. a reasonable, biblical defense for our faith.

Not by experience but by the Word.

Titus 1:9–11 “9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. 10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.”

Declare God to the world. Declare God’s faithfulness to His promises. Declare God’s act of sending His son to die in our place.