A Tale of Two Temple Volume 2

Introduction: Review

Continuing Power and Persecution

The Power (5:12-21)

The Purpose (5:22-32)

The Persecution (5:33-42)

Note: This is still the Jerusalem section of the book and they are still continuing to worship in the temple.

The Power in Stephen

The Power (6:8-15)

The Purpose (7:1-50)

The Call of Abraham (7:1-8)

The Patriarchs in Egypt (7:9-16)

God Delivers Israel by Moses (7:17-36)

Israel Rebels Against God (7:37-43)

God’s True Tabernacle (7:44-50)

The Rejection (7:51-60)

Conclusion: Up to this point in the book it has been a back and forth between the apostles and followers of Jesus and the old Jewish establishment. Through their lives, Jesus had obviously placed his stamp of approval on the true believers, and the old Jewish religious establishment kept rejecting the truth that was right in front of them. Yes, they were guilty and openly participated in the murder of Jesus, however through faith and repentance they could find mercy with the Lord. They then receive the clear presentation of the gospel by Stephen and in one final decisive act they throw him out of the city and murder him too. The warning is clear: God is longsuffering and patient, but there will come a time when God gives us over to the desires of our own heart. It is at this point in the book that the Jerusalem section comes to a close. When we pick up next week in chapter 8 we will move on to the Judea and Samaria section of the book. The warning of this section is clear: God is longsuffering, kind, gracious, and generous but by no means will He clear the guilty ()

Numbers 14:18 NKJV

‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’