CHAPTER 7

1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

In the last chapter, we learned that the council PAID people to lie about Stephen (See Acts 6:11-14).

The high priest was asking Stephen if what the people said were true?

Stephen didn't dignify the question with an answer.
Instead he launched into a history lesson which lead to an accusation.

2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

Stephen called upon the people to "hearken" - LISTEN (vs 2).
And he began the history lesson with how the Hebrews came into being.
They began with Abram, whom God renamed Abraham.

Abraham first lived in the land of Mesopotamia.
God called him to leave that country and people, taking only his immediate family, his father, and Lot who was Abraham's dead brother's son.

The nation of Israel came into being on a COMMITMENT to believe and follow God's command.
The church today had its beginning upon a COMMITMENT to believe and follow Christ's command (See John 14:1and John 14:15).
And the church CONTINUES today upon the COMMITMENT of EACH believer to believe and follow Christ's command.

One point in reference to this part of the history lesson.
God didn't give Abraham specific instructions.
He just told Abraham to leave, and go where God directed him.
Abraham DID as God SAID!
This was a good point for Stephen to bring up at that time, and it is a good point to bring up TODAY!
If we truly believe God, we should LISTEN and OBEY.

Another point in reference to this part of the history lesson.
God gave no specific land of dwelling for Abraham.
But God told him that it WOULD be his and his descendants.
Remember, at that time, Abraham and his wife had NO children!

Christians, this present world IS a "possession" given to YOU.
One day, you will rule and reign with Christ for 1,000 years here!
AND, after that, we'll have a "land of promise" in heaven FOREVER!!

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

Under the direction of God, Abraham traveled with his family and his herds.
Under the protection of God, Abraham traveled the land, for "the Canaanite was then in the land." When we take God's direction, we can expect God's protection. (See Genesis 15:1).

Be sure you take time DAILY to call "upon the name of the LORD!"

9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

As Abraham went South, there was a "famine in the land."
It was a very "grievous" famine!

Sometimes, when we follow the Lord, there are difficult times, and those times may indeed be "grievous!"
But let us, as Abraham did, journey ON in faith!
For we KNOW we have a house "whose Builder and Maker is GOD!" (See Hebrews 11:10).

6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

God gave Abraham a vision in which he was told that his descendants would be held in slavery for 400 years!
But God promised DELIVERANCE!

My friends, when we feel the world is against us and the difficulty is too great, let us remember:
God has promised ETERNAL deliverance!! (See 2Timothy 3:12) and 1Peter 3:14-20).

8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

First, let us note that circumcision is of spiritual significance.
It was given as the outward sign ratifying an agreement between Abraham and God (See Genesis 17:1-14).

The relevence of this spiritual significance is noted in: Deuteronomy 10:16; Acts 7:51; Colossians 2:11.

This agreement, covenant, was to be passed on from generation to generation.
It was a covenant of believing God, and a commitment to living in purity.

Someone might well ask, "Well, why then were they circumcised at 8 days of age?"
It was a sign that the parents were committed to rearing the child in "the ways of the Lord."
However, even being circumcised, if the child didn't make a conscious commitment to the Lord, the outward sign was just that:
only a sign!

Keep in mind the spiritual significance.
In the Old Testament, a person who was "uncircumcised" was also unclean before God.

For years (during the "wilderness" travel), the rite was "put aside" by God's people.
But Joshua re-instituted it before they went into the "promised land." (See Joshua 5:2-9).

When Jesus began a NEW Covenant through His death on the cross, baptism became the new outward sign
ratifying an agreement between God and man.
Baptism, like circumcision is only an outward sign.
Without a conscious commitment to living for the Lord, it means NOTHING!

9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

Joseph was Jacob's eleventh son born to his wife Rachel.
Rachel was the one Jacob worked seven years for, and then was deceived and given the eldest daughter Leah.
Then Jacob had to work ANOTHER seven years for Rachel - because he LOVED her.
Because Jacob had loved Rachel so much, when this son (Joseph) came along, he was given preferential treatment.
He suffered hatred from his brothers, and they sold him into slavery.

Joseph was brought into Egypt, and through some other difficulties, found "favour" in Pharoah, the king of Egypt.
(See the commentary Genesis(Chapters 36-47)

Joseph actually became second-in-command in Egypt.
ALL this was because "God was WITH him." (vs 9)

No matter how life treats us, if we are "with" God, and when God is "with" us, everything works out according to His will.
And, when it works out for His will, THAT is for our "good!" (See Romans 8:28)

Perhaps Stephen's point here was: Joseph's brothers hated him, sold him into slavery, but Joseph was the one that SAVED them.
This was essentially the same case with Jesus.

17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

Going on with the history lesson, Stephen approaches another instance where God used a difficult situation in His plan.

Under slavery, Jacob's family increased so much they became a threat to Pharoah.
So, the king commanded that all the sons of the Israelites be slain, and not kept. (See Exodus 1:22)

God had promised Abraham that after 400 years, the family would be "delivered." (See Genesis 15:13-14)

Moses was a "son" that was supposed to be killed, but his sister saved him by placing him in an ark.
Pharoahs daughter saw him, and took him to raise as her own child.

During this awful time, when sons were being killed, God worked a part of His master plan.
He caused Moses to be saved.
And Moses became the leader who took Israel out of slavery and into the "promised land."

God is always working through our dificulties and implementing His own master plan!

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

Moses, at 40, decided to see what was happening with his "brethren" (Israelites).
What he found was SHOCKING!
The Egyptian task masters beat the Israelite slaves for the least things!
Moses KILLED one of them!

The next day, he again went to see what was happening.
He found two Israelites arguing with each other.
When he tried to be a "peacemaker," one of them exposed Moses as a MURDERER!

Christians, often our lives are not what they are supposed to be.
Don't be surprised if you try to be a good Christian and someone bring's up your PAST!

Actually, this was also part of God's master plan.
Read on.

29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

Moses ran away, for he feared Pharoah would kill him.
He got a job helping a man (Jethro) with his sheep.
He met Jethro's daughter, Zipporah, and married her.
They had 2 sons.

ANOTHER 40 years passed (now Moses was 80).
And Moses met at a burning bush.
(See the commentary on Exodus 3)

Like Joseph, Moses had been refused.
But, God (using His master plan) made Moses the lead who would deliver Israel from Pharoah, and take them to the "promised land."

Do you see the pattern in Joseph's speech concerning history?
God's "chosen people" were continually refusing His leaders!

THAT is what they did with Jesus!

36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

Moses was the main "deliverer" of the Israelites in history.
HE (Moses) is the one who prophesied of Jesus' coming.
He told the Israelites there would be a "prophet" like Him that would arise.
And, he told them to "hearken" to that Prophet!
((See Deuteronomy 18:15))

They resisted Moses, and now they resisted the Messiah, Jesus.

38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

Moses received the Ten Commandments ("holy oracles" vs 38 above) from God on Mt. Sinai.
But, while Moses was receiving the law from God - the Israelites "in their hearts turned back again into Egypt."
They made a "golden calf." ((See Exodus 32:1-4))

Even when God gave them "the tabernacle of witness" (the holy tabernacle), they carried with them the small tents containing their own personal gods!
They were NEVER serious about worshipping God ONLY!
They were only concerned with worshipping as they WANTED, and worshipping when it SUITED them!

Therefore, God allowed them to wander back into idolatry.
What a man WANTS to do with his religious life, God allows.

Even today, we have the Holy Bible and God's witness to us of Christ ALONE as our salvation.
Yet some would rather reform Christ into their own mold!
For instance, some say it's alright with God to gamble, drink, commit adultery, murder children (abortion).
NOWHERE will you find that in the Bible!!
But some would RATHER worship like that -- and so they DO!
But God knows the HEARTS!!

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal 6:7

45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built him an house.
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?

Later, in history, David came along.
He loved God, and wanted to build a temple, a permanent structure of beauty - instead of a "tabernacle" (temporary tent).
David was not allowed to build the temple because he was considered "a man of war."
But David's son, Solomon was allowed to build the temple.

Even Solomon declared that God is too big for temples (See 1Kings 8:27).

Even when men build temples, people turn their hearts toward worshipping the temple instead of the God of the temple!

History lesson now over, Stephen turns to the conclusion, still using history for explanation.

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

Even since Moses, they had resisted God by resisting the truth preached by the prophets!
They persecuted and even killed the prophets!

Even though they had received the law by the Angel of The Lord Himself, they wouldn't "keep" it!
For the FIRST law is "Thou shalt have NO OTHER gods before Me!" (Exodus 20:3)
And, they had worshipped idols, and even made God into an idol!

And, when God sent them a true prophet of truth bringing conviction upon their hearts, they persecuted the prophet, and
CONTINUED to resist God!

Now, when Jesus was proven to be Messiah by the resurrection from the dead, they were STILL resisting God!!

54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

Look at verse 54 closely.
The word from which "cut" is translated is the Greek diaprio, which means "sawed."

The word of God in truth is a two-edged sword!! (See Hebrews 4:12)

The Word of God is always accompanied by God's Holy Spirit!
He wields the Sword of the Word into men's hearts - place of thoughts, and the "middle" of decision making.

But, instead of surrendering to the truth, they became angry with Stephen, and STILL RESISTED God!

They grabbed Stephen up, carried him outside the city, and stoned him to death.
Saul (later renamed Paul, after he was saved) was there holding the coats of the men doing the stoning.
YES! God can change the hearts of those who are severely prejudiced!!

When men resist God, they will do evil things to God's messengers!
That's what happened here.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen had just stated that he saw Jesus "standing on the right hand of God," - or the place of POWER.
Remember, our Lord Jesus has power over ALL things! (See Matthew 28:18)

Now, Stephen calls upon our Lord Jesus to "receive my spirit" (person).
As the body gives way to death, the "spirit" (person) continues to exist!!
(See Ecclesiastes 12:6-7)

Man is made of "breath of God."
Man is "housed" in a body of clay that is temporary.
But the real PERSON exists forever!

Stephen was confident his eternal existence would be with Jesus!
ARE YOU?

Notice, when they stoned Stephen, he didn't rant, rave, and scream curses.
Instead, he prayed for his attackers!

What FAITH!
What STRENGTH!
What COURAGE!
He could not have HAD those if it were not for the Spirit of God indwelling His being!

Friend, are YOU indwelled by the Spirit of God forever?

If you have surrendered your life to Christ, then you are SEALED IN HIS HOLY SPIRIT (See )

The same power of faith, strength and courage are yours through a daily personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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