Stephen, the High Priest, and the Rebellious
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (Acts 7:51)
INTRODUCTION
Setting the stage (Acts 6:8-15) Stephen accused
STEPHEN’S DEFENSE The history of Israel (Acts 7:1-53)
1. Abraham v 2-7
a) Family history v 2-4
b) Inheritance v 5
c) Bondage v 6-7
2. Covenant of circumcision v 8
3. Joseph: Prison to Prince v 9-16
a) Joseph afflicted by his brothers, made governor by Pharaoh v 9-10
b) Famine v 11-12
c) Revelation to brothers and father v13-16
4. Exodus v 17-36
a) Pharaoh’s plan to destroy God’s people v 17-19
b) Moses born and raised in Pharaoh’s court for 40 years v 20-22
c) Moses visits his brethren v 23-29
d) Moses flees to Midian for 40 years v 29-30
e) God calls Moses to deliver Israel v 30-35
f) God delivers Israel v 36
g) Moses reminds the people of their rebellion and idol worship v37-44
h) Joshua Promised Land till David v 45
i) David finds favor with God v 46
j) Temple built by Solomon v 47
k) God does not dwell in temples made by hands v 48-50
l) Stephen’s rebuke for disobedience and death of Jesus v 51-53
RESPONSE TO STEPHEN’S DEFENSE (Acts 7:54-60)
1. High Priest, people, elders, and false witnesses v 54, 57-60
a) They were cut to the heart v 54
b) Stopped their ears v 57
c) Cast him out of the city and stoned him v 58-59
2. Stephen’s response v 55-56, 59-60
a) Looked up to heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God v 55-56
b) Call’s unto God to receive his spirit v 59
c) Cries to God saying “Lay not this sin to their charge.”
CONCLUSION
- KNOW YOUR HISTORY
- OBEY GOD’S WORD
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain 1-907-715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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