10.acts 7:17-37 – by speaking highly of moses, stephen showed that he did not teach against either...

Panorama of the

New Testament

Stephen’s Defense

10.Acts 7:17-37 – By speaking highly of Moses, Stephen showed that he did not teach against either Moses or the Law.a. Acts 7:17-20 – Israel’s population increase

under Egyptian oppression and the fulfillment of Genesis 15:13 showed that God was with Israel even outside the Land.

Stephen’s Defense

b. Acts 7:21-22 – God continued His plans for Israel by preserving and rearing Moses, Israel’s future deliverer, right in the household of the enemy, Pharaoh!

c. Acts 7:23-29 – Moses’ fellow countrymen misunderstood his actions and rejected him as their deliverer. This statement may have helped convict some of the religious leaders of their similar rejection of Messiah.

Stephen’s Defense

d. Acts 7:30-34 – God’s glory appeared to Moses in the desert in a burning bush and made that barren place into holy ground. God showed His concern for Israel by redeeming them from Egypt through Moses, the man they had rejected.

e. Acts 7:35 – Stephen’s message, which connected Israel’s disowning of Moses to their own disowning of Jesus, would have brought conviction.

Stephen’s Defense

f. Acts 7:36 – The Jewish religious leaders revered the man Moses because he led Israel to freedom with great signs and wonders. Ironically, they rejected Messiah who did greater signs and wonders as He tried to give Israel the greatest freedom!

g. Acts 7:37 – The coming Prophet whom Moses revered was Jesus.

Stephen’s Defense

1) The religious leaders’ accused Stephen of rejecting Moses yet their rejection of Jesus was proof that they had rejected Moses’ writings.

2) Deuteronomy 18:15, 18 – Moses emphatically commanded Israel to listen to the coming Prophet, but when He came, they rejected and crucified Him.

Stephen’s Defense

11.Acts 7:38-45 – Stephen’s scriptural account of Israel’s rebellion continued to bring conviction to these stubborn leaders.a. Acts 7:38-39 – Even though Moses was

communicating directly with the Lord and getting from Him a life-giving message, they rejected him for the Golden Calf. In the same way, Israel rejected the Word of Life, Jesus Christ. John 5:46-47, 1 John 1:1

Stephen’s Defense

b. Acts 7:40-41 – When God spoke to Israel at Mt. Sinai, they mentally turned back to Egypt and went after a god of their own design. By implication, Stephen’s audience had also drawn back from Christ to worship their own idols.

Stephen’s Defense

c. Acts 7:42-43 – Quoting Amos, Stephen showed that God sent Israel into captivity because of her rejection of the true God in favor of idols. This fact doubtlessly pierced the hearts of his audience by showing their similar rejection of Christ.

Stephen’s Defense

d. Acts 7:44-45 –Stephen took the opportunity to remind his defiant listeners that God was not confined to the temple since He was with Israel in the wilderness and even dwelt with them in many places in the portable tabernacle.

Stephen’s Defense

12.Acts 7:46-50 – God didn’t allow David, who found favor in His eyes, to build Him a temple. Stephen repeatedly emphasized the fact that God cannot be confined. a. Acts 7:46-47 – David had a heart for God

and desired to build Him a temple, but God said no. Eventually, He allowed David’s son Solomon to build the temple.

Stephen’s Defense

b. Acts 7:48 – In essence, Stephen said that God is so vast that nothing can contain Him. The cosmos does not hold God; rather God holds the cosmos. These religious leaders needed to understand that God cannot be confined.

Stephen’s Defense

c. Acts 7:49 – Stephen accused the religious leaders of turning God’s house into a place of meaningless, man-centered rituals. The soon-to-be-destroyed temple had become an idol.

d. Acts 7:50 – The Jewish religious leaders maligned the truth by limiting Creator God to a building made by man’s hands.

Stephen’s Defense

13.Acts 7:51-53 – Finally, having made his defense, Stephen went on the offensive and directly accused the religious leaders of rebellion against God.a. Acts 7:51 – Stephen accused them of four

related areas of rebellion.1) You are obstinate. You men who are

stiff-necked…2) You are unaltered. …uncircumcised in

heart and ears…

Stephen’s Defense

3) You are incorrigible. …always resisting the Holy Spirit…

4) You are wayward. …you are doing just as your fathers did…

Stephen’s Defense

b. Acts 7:52a – Stephen blamed them for betraying and murdering the Righteous One, the Messiah. Their fathers had murdered the prophets, who predicted the Messiah’s coming and trusted in Him. They were no better than their murderous ancestors.

c. Acts 7:52b-53 – Stephen made his accusation clear. They were committing the very sins they held against him. Deuteronomy 33:2

Stephen’s Defense

1) Acts 7:52b – They blamed Stephen for speaking against the Law, yet they rejected the Law’s authors, Moses and the prophets, who testified about Christ. John 5:39-40, Luke 24:25, 27

2) Acts 7:53 – They clearly disobeyed the Law they supposedly defended.

Stephen’s Death

14.Acts 7:54-60 – Angry and unrepentant, they viciously attacked and murdered Stephen.a. Acts 7:54 – The word of God always

softens or hardens a heart according the hearer’s response to it. Hebrews 4:12-13

b. Acts 7:55-56 – Stephen told the angry Jews that he saw the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus stood in honor of Stephen, His servant who was faithful unto death.

Stephen’s Death

c. Acts 7:57 – The religious leaders covered their ears and screamed so they could not hear the truth. They were unified in their unbelief.

d. Acts 7:58 – Here, we first meet Saul, who became the great apostle Paul. He stood there approving Stephen’s stoning.

Stephen’s Death

e. Acts 7:59 – Stephen was bold in his defense of the Gospel even when he had no converts. His death marked the beginning of Christian persecution in Jerusalem.

f. Acts 7:60 – Stephen died.1) Acts 7:60a – Stephen reflected Christ’s

character by praying for his enemies while he died (fell asleep in Christ). Matthew 5:44

Stephen’s Death

2) Acts 7:60b – Having said this, he fell asleep. This does not mean that a person has “soul sleep” after death. 2 Corinthians 5:1-8, Philippians 1:21-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, Luke 16:19-31

Stephen’s Death

3) Acts 7:60c – …he fell asleep… The New Testament uses this terminology only to describe a believer’s death. Every believer’s soul and spirit depart to be with the Lord while his body sleeps in the dust awaiting its resurrection at the rapture of the church. Daniel 12:2, John 5:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55

Observations

N. Key Observations1. The Holy Spirit is the key person in the book

of Acts.a. The name Holy Spirit is found ninety

times in the New Testament, forty-five of them in Acts.

b. God the Holy Spirit was the agent in Acts working everything together for His good purpose. Galatians 3:3, 5:25; Romans 8:4-5, 15:13; Ephesians 4:30

Observations

2. Confident reliance on our Savior gives us boldness to proclaim the truth (Hebrews 12:1-2). Because Peter was gaining greater knowledge of His Savior, He was becoming a formidable spiritual warrior. 2 Peter 1:3-4, 3:18

3. Salvation comes only through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Acts 4:10-12

F

S H/SS

Philippians2:6-8

2 Cor. 5:21

1 Timothy 2:5-6

Romans3:23

2 Cor. 5:20

2 Corinthians 5:19

Faith

Observations

4. An unbeliever must hear and understand the Gospel message concerning Jesus Christ so he can believe in Christ as His Savior. Romans 10:13-17, Ephesians 1:13-14

5. Governments that pass laws that prevent biblical obedience force believers to decide if they will obey God or man. Romans 13:1-5, 1 Timothy 2:1-5

1. Volition – Personal Responsibility – Gen. 2:15-17

2. Marriage – One man and one woman with the husband in the position of authority – Gen. 2:22-24

3. Family – Parental authority – Genesis 4:1

4. Human Government – Ruling authority – Gen. 9:1-17

5. Nationalism – No internationalism – Genesis 11:7-9

Observations

a. The choice to obey God over man does not mean we will not suffer persecution for our faith at the hands of a government. 2 Timothy 3:12, Philippians 1:29-30

b. History shows that believers are often persecuted by governments that do not fear God. Romans 8:17, 35-37, Hebrews 11:36-38

Observations

6. The church usually thrives during persecution because persecution has an emboldening effect on the saints (Philippians 1:12-14). In about AD 200, Tertullian, a church leader, wrote, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church."

Persecution

VI. Acts 8-12:25 – Persecution that forced disciples into Samaria and the conversion of Saul

A. Acts 8:1-4 – Persecution scattered believers around the world. They preached as they went.1. Acts 8:1 – Saul fully approved of Stephen’s

murder. a. Acts 8:1a – Jesus had commanded

believers to take the Gospel message around the world, but most were reluctant to leave Jerusalem.

Persecution

b. Filled with rage at the growth of Christianity, the Jewish religious leaders began brutally persecuting the church.

c. Acts 8:1b – God used this persecution to advance His evangelistic plan.

Persecution

2. Acts 8:2 – The Bible never teaches us to mistreat the bodies of dead people. Since God will resurrect our dead bodies, believers have typically laid their dead to rest in the earth, where they peacefully return to the dust from which Adam was taken. Genesis 3:19

3. Acts 8:3 – Saul tried to destroy Christ’s church by systematically seeking and arresting believing men and women and casting them into prison.

Persecution

4. Acts 8:4 – This persecution by the Jewish religious leaders actually expanded the church since fleeing believers spread the Gospel far beyond Jerusalem.

TRAVELS OF PHILIP (Acts 8:5-40)

Philip’s Preaching

B. Acts 8:5-25 – Philip’s preaching1. Acts 8:5 – Philip preached about the

Messiah, Jesus Christ, teaching that He paid the penalty for all sins and was resurrected from the dead so that we can be saved.

2. Acts 8:6 – Philip’s amazing miracles and signs verified that his message was from God; therefore, crowds gathered to listen to him teach.


3. Acts 8:7 – When the message of Christ first arrived in an area, God multiplied the miracles to validate the message. Acts 4:30, 14:3; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Romans 15:19a. Scripture shows that miracles diminished

after the Gospel message gained acceptance.


b. Galatians 4:13-15 – (Circa AD 45-47) Because he was sick (maybe his eyes), Paul stayed in the province of Galatia for an extended time. Ironically, during that same time, God worked many miracles through him but didn’t cure him.

c. Acts 19:10-12 – (Circa AD 54-57) People took clothes and material that Paul had touched, placed them on the sick, and they were healed.


d. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 – (Circa AD 56-57) Paul spoke of having earnestly and repeatedly prayed concerning a thorn (sickness or physical ailment) in his body, but God denied him healing.

e. Acts 28:3-10 – (Circa AD 60-61) When Paul, a prisoner, was shipwrecked on the Island of Malta, an area that hadn’t heard the Gospel, suddenly he could again perform many sign miracles.


f. Philippians 2:25-30 – (Circa AD 62) Paul mentioned Epaphroditus, a friend who nearly died while Paul was with him. Though Paul was unable to instantly heal him, eventually, God had mercy and restored his health.

g. 1 Timothy 5:23 – (Circa AD 63-65) Paul encouraged Timothy to drink a bit of wine to help him with his stomach problems and frequent illnesses. Why didn’t Paul heal him?


h. 2 Timothy 4:20 – (Circa AD 65-68) Paul wrote that he left his friend Trophimus sick in Miletus. Why didn’t Paul heal him?


4. Acts 8:8 – When the Samaritans understood the free gift of salvation through Christ and saw the signs and wonders that proved that the message came from God, they were filled with joy.

5. Acts 8:9-11 – Sorcery and deception go together. In Galatians 5:20, sorcery was listed as a work of the flesh. Deception has no place in the proclamation of truth.


6. Acts 8:12 – Philip preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ and also explained the kingdom of God.a. Acts 8:12a – With the conversion of the

Samaritans, a new people group was added to the church, making it no longer exclusively Jewish.


b. Acts 8:12b – The order of events is clear. First, the Samaritans believed in Christ and were saved. Then, Philip baptized them in water to identify them publically as believers in Christ. Later, they received the Holy Spirit.


c. Acts 8:12c – The fact that they did not immediately receive the Holy Spirit after believing the Gospel highlights the transition recorded in the book of Acts.

d. Acts 8:12d – A good, literal translation of this verse would read, proclaiming good news, the things concerning the reign of God and the name of Jesus Christ. (YLT)


1) John 4:25-26 – Samaritans had been interested in the kingdom of God and the Messiah when Jesus Himself earlier taught them.

2) John 4:39-42 – Under Jesus’s ministry, many Samaritans had already believed in Him as their personal Savior; however, the Samaritans were never offered the kingdom. God offered the kingdom only to Israel.


7. Acts 8:13 – Simon believed the good news preached by Philip. He was as amazed by Philip’s miracles as the people had been amazed by his magic trickery.

8. Acts 8:14-17 – Believers in Samaria did not receive the Holy Spirit immediately.a. Acts 8:14a – Philip went to Samaria and

preached the Gospel. Many believed.


b. Acts 8:14b – The Jerusalem church sent Peter and John to investigate the phenomenon of the Samaritans believing in great numbers.

c. Acts 8:15 – Peter and John prayed that these believers might receive the Holy Spirit.

d. Acts 8:16 – These believing Samaritans did not receive the Holy Spirit immediately but were baptized in water nonetheless because of their faith in Christ.


e. Acts 8:17 – When Peter and John placed their hands on these believers, they received the Holy Spirit. The “Samaritan Pentecost” was different from the Jerusalem one because here the Holy Spirit came through the laying on of hands.

ActsDifferent order of events

Acts 2

Belief/spirit baptism

Water baptism

Acts 8

Belief

Water baptism

Spirit baptism


9. Acts 8:18-24 – The Bible does not state that these believing Samaritans spoke in tongues as on the Day of Pentecost, but something extraordinary visibly happened since Simon, the former sorcerer, wrongly offered money to get the same power.a. Acts 8:18 – Simon offered money to

receive this apostolic authority. Apparently, he wanted to profit by doing true miracles.


b. Acts 8:19 – Peter did not have the authority to give God’s power to perform miracles, and he never would have used God’s authority to gain riches or fame. 1) Acts 8:19a – Simon was confused and

immature, the state of all new believers.2) Acts 8:19b – To remove his confusion,

Simon needed to grow spiritually through increased understanding of the Word of God.


3) Acts 8:19c – This event should make us stop, pause, and reflect on those today who use the Word of God or their position in the church for monetary gain or personal fame. 2 Corinthians 2:17a


c. Acts 8:20 – Peter strongly rebuked Simon, telling him to take his money and go to the under region. May your money perish with you!1) Acts 8:20a – Simon had the wrong

understanding of God’s power.2) Acts 8:20b – Simon continued to have

some of the same sinful tendencies he had before salvation. He needed to grow in his knowledge of the Lord.


d. Acts 8:21 – Peter told Simon he needed a different mindset (way of thinking) before God.

e. Acts 8:22 – Peter’s rebuke was harsh because sin destroys the believer’s life and spiritual vitality.1) Acts 8:22a – Peter instructed Simon to

change his thinking (repent) and confess his sin.


2) Acts 8:22b – Unless Simon changed his thinking and admitted his sin to God the Father, he couldn’t have God's forgiveness and resultant fellowship.


f. Acts 8:23 – To change his long-practiced sinful ways, Simon needed to have his thinking renovated by the Holy Spirit through God's Word.

g. Acts 8:24 – The text reveals no more about Simon except that he asked for prayer.

h. Acts 8:25 – As the apostles walked back to Jerusalem, they stopped along the way and preached the Gospel message to other Samaritans.

10.acts 7:17-37 – by speaking highly of moses, stephen showed that he did not teach against either...

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