Sermon Tone Analysis

Context

‘And Stephen’… this is a continuation from .

Stephen, a Greek-speaking (Hellonistic) Jew was one of the 7 Jews appointed to oversee the daily distribution and ensure the churches outreach to the poor and needy modelled the Gospel.

In verse 7 we see the result of that decision.

Here Luke again singles out one of the 7, Stephen c.f.

Acts 6:3

All of this is leading into what Luke wants to tell us in Chapter 7.

Target

May be more than one synagogue but probably just one.

Hellenistic Synagogue for ex-slaves (or children thereof, many Jews had been enslaved by the Romans and had achieved their freedom), Cyrenians (Shahhat in modern day Libya, Mediterranean coast of North Africa), Alexandrians (also on the Egyptian Mediterranean coast), Cilicia (the Mediterranean coast of modern day Turkey) which contained Tarsus, from where we will meet Saul in , who will become Paul (c.f. ).

It is almost certain that the Apostle Paul was a member of the Synagogue mentioned, and that Gamaliel (who we met last time in ) presided over it (c.f. ).

Acts

You can’t win a debate with God!

But even saying all the right things will not always prevent attack

Promised Persecution

Acts 6:11-

When they couldn’t argue with Stephen’s Wisdom, they turned to stirring up false accusations to silence him.

Just as they did to Jesus, they now did to those who followed Him.

When they couldn’t argue with Stephen’s Wisdom, they turned to stirring up false accusations to silence him.

Just as they did to Jesus, they now did to those who followed Him.

They accused Jesus, and now Stephen, of Blasphemy as the punishment was death:

Then they brought false witnesses

Just as there were a Jesus’ trial:

This fulfills Jesus’ promise

John

Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple, and clearly Stephen has repeated that.

It would occur in 70 AD (~40 years later) during the Siege of Jerusalem by the Romans:

Luke

John tells us Jesus also explained the allusion to his own death and resurrection:

but John tells us Jesus was alluding to his own body:

John

Notice, Jesus never claimed to destroy the temple!

Instead, God would allow it’s destruction, and Jesus would replace it.

This is a sign of the new covenant.

God with us

Despite the false accusations, the lies, the persecution, Stephen would be full of the Holy Spirit, such as that it did not go unnoticed: