The religion of Christ grew rapidly
 About 3,000, Acts 2:41
 About 5,000, Acts 4:4
 Great impact
 Angered Jews, Acts 4:1-3
 Apostles threatened & beaten, Acts 4 & 5
 Many priest converted, Acts 6:7
It can still have a great impact
 Gospel still has power
 Resistance will occur
 We must press on
Stephen defended the gospel, Acts 6:8-10
 Well-respected Christian, Acts 6:1-6
 Taught & confirmed the truth
 Defended against attacks
Falsely charged with blasphemy,
Acts 6:11-15
 Malicious motives
 Charges: true & false
• Destruction of Temple, Mt. 24:1, 2
• Change of the Law, Heb. 7:12-14
• Did not blaspheme
We may be falsely accused
 Husband is head of wife, Eph. 5:22-24
 Denounce same-sex marriage, Gen. 2:18-24
God’s dealings with the fathers, Acts 7:2-8
 Belief in God
 Belief in His promises
 Belief in fulfillment
Rejection of Joseph, Acts 7:9-16
 Envy & wicked deeds, cf. Mk. 15:9, 10
 Rejected by men
 Exalted by God, Gen. 39-41
 Deliverer, Gen. 42-50
Rejection of Moses, Acts 7:17-43
 Rejected by his brethren, 7:17-29
 Exalted by God, 7:30-37
• Deliverer, Ex. 12-14
• Law giver, Exodus – Deuteronomy
• God’s choice, cf. 1 Pt. 2:4-8
• Another Prophet – God’s choice
Rejection of Moses, Acts 7:17-43
 Israel continued to rebel, 7:37-43
• Prophet ignored
• Golden calf
• Idolatry adopted, cf. Amos 5:25-27
Temple not sacred, Acts 7:44-50
 Tabernacle then Temple
 Change made
• Location irrelevant, Jn. 4:20-24
• God not in buildings
• Destruction of Temple not out of line
Application, Acts 7:51-53
 Council
 Us…do we resist the Spirit?
• Reject baptism
• Deny one true church
• Get intoxicated
• Use foul language
Stephen’s death, Acts 7:54-60
 Cut to the heart, Heb. 4:12; Acts 2:37
 Courage from heaven
 Stoned
 Prayer
Persecution of the church, Acts 8:1-4
 Condemn Stephen for this?
 Gospel taught in new places
The religion of Christ grew rapidly
 About 3,000, Acts 2:41
 About 5,000, Acts 4:4
 Great impact
 Angered Jews, Acts 4:1-3
 Apostles threatened & beaten, Acts 4 & 5
 Many priest converted, Acts 6:7
It can still have a great impact
 Gospel still has power
 Resistance will occur
 We must press on