Stephen is Killed for His Faith (Acts 7)

• Share your thoughts and reflections on Ethnic Cultural Racial Differences [between the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews (Acts 6:1)].

1. Who are the people Stephen referenced in their historical order? What were the important events in each of their lives? [Persons Stephen spoke about in Acts 7]
1. The Patriarchal Period (7:1-16):
1. Ac 7:2 (Genesis 12-25).
2. Ac 7:8a (Genesis 21-28).
3. Ac 7:8b (Genesis 25-50).
4. Ac 7:9 (Genesis 37-50).
2. Moses and the wilderness wanderings (7:17-43):
1. Ac 7:20 (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
2. Ac 7:40 (", ", ", ").
3. The Tabernacle and the Temple; the establishment of the monarchy (7:44-50):
1. Ac 7:45a (Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua).
2. Ac 7:45b (1,2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Psalms)
3. Ac 7:47 (2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1,2 Chronicles, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song).
2. What was his attitude toward his accusers (Ac 7:2a)? What frames Stephen's sermon (Ac 7:2, 55)?
3. Why is it important for Stephen to review this history in such detail in his "sermon"?  [Can Christians do so today?] Was he primarily defending himself? Was he anti-Law (Ac 7:38, 53)? What was the recurrent pattern of the people of Israel (Ac 7:9, 25-29, 39, 41)? What was his primary point (Ac 7:4, 37-40, 48-49, 51-53)?
4. What was the climax and conclusion of his speech (Ac 7:51-53, 8; Isa 63:10; Heb 11:32-38; 1 Ki 18:4, 13; Jer 26:20-24; Mt 5:10-12; Lk 6:22-23; 11:47-51)? How are Stephen's accusers guilty of the very same thing they are accusing Stephen of doing? Did he have to indict/enrage them by being blunt, direct and provocative?
5. What was Stephen's disposition (Ac 6:3, 5, 10, 15; 7:55; Mt 10:19-20; Lk 21:15)? Why were they so angry at such a God filled man (Ac 7:54, 57; Jn 3:19; 14:15; 16:2)? What basis did they have to stone him (Ac 7:58; Lev 24:11, 14-16)? Who were the ones who stoned him (Ac 6:12-14; Dt 17:7)?
6. What and who did Stephen see (Ac 7:55-56; 2:34-35; Ps 110:1; Dan 7:13)? How were Stephen's last words similar to that of Christ (Ac 7:59-60; Lk 23:34, 46; Ps 31:5)?
7. How did Stephen's death launch the Great Commission (Ac 8:1-3; 1:8; Mt 28:19)? Where were they scattered to and what did they do (Ac 8:4-5, 40; 9:32; 10:32; 11:19)?
8. Who agreed, approved and consented to killing Stephen (Ac 8:1; 6:10)? How did this affect him (Ac 8:3; 22:20; 26:9-12; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6)? Why was he so determined to destroy the church (Dt 21:22-23)?

Jealousy, Life, Obedience & Joy (Acts 5).