Acts 7
Message and Martyrdom of Stephen
I. Questioning of High Priest (7:1)
 Probably Caiaphas, same as presided over Jesus’ trial (Mt 26:57; Mk 14:54) (Acts
4:5-6)
II. Response of Stephen (7:2-53)
Longest recorded message in Acts. As a Hellenist Jew his words prepare the extension of
the gospel beyond Judaism. His response did not defend himself, but rather sought to
vindicate Christianity. Three main overlapping ideas to convey:
1. Progress and change are normal in God’s creative program: 5 points
 7:2-8 Promise to Abraham – From working with entire human race God chose
to focus on one, then gave him 12 great grandsons, founders of 12 tribes.
 7:9-16 Sojourn of Joseph – the move to Egypt fulfilled prophecy (vv. 6-7) – a
radical change.
 7:17-43 Deliverance under Moses – How God used one man to bring change
 7:44-46 Building of the Tabernacle. Though important the Tabernacle was
declared to be temporary, Tabernacle of Testimony gave witness to the temporary
nature of God’s presence in the Tabernacle was temporary.
 7:47-50 Construction of the Temple – Even the Temple was a symbol of the
presence of God, not the real home of God.
2. Blessings of God are not restricted to Israel and Temple: 4 examples
Israel’s leaders were blessed outside the land –
 Abraham called from Mesopotamia [Iraq] and given promises before he lived in
Haran (vv. 2-5) –
 God was with Joseph in Egypt (vv. 9-10) –
 Moses called in Midian (vv. 29-34) – Law was given outside the land (v. 44) –
 Even the Temple [God’s dwelling place] could not be limited since God declared
that “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool” (v. 49; quoting Isa
66:1).
3. Opposition to God’s plan and prophets was typical—Stephen’s main point (7:5153)—Israel always resisted the Spirit:
 Even Abraham tarried in Haran (vv. 2-4)
 Joseph sold by his brothers into slavery (v. 9)
 Moses rejected by Israel (vv. 23-29)
Note: both Joseph and Moses rejected in their first appearance, but accepted in their
second! (vv. 13, 35-36)
 Israel rejected true worship for idols (vv. 39-43) – her unbelief is seen as idolatry.
 God judged the nation then sending them into Exile in Babylon (v. 43)
 Israel missed the meaning of the temple (v. 48-50) as the only dwelling place on
earth – Jewish counter to Mount Olympia. It was to be a place of prayer and
worship but not God’s home (1 Kings 8:23-53)
III. Challenging information in the text
7:6 Israel “enslaved and mistreated 400 years” but Paul stated that the time from
Abraham (Gen 15:13-16) to Mt. Sinai, the giving of the law, was 430 years.
Logos Adult Bible Class
Acts 7
Dr. Don Fanning


Possibly Stephen was using rounded numbers, not specific
The bondage was actually 400 yrs, but the 430 yrs was from the confirming of
the covenant (Gen 35:9-15) to the Exodus (1446 BC)
 Main problem: how much time was Israel in bondage in Egypt?
o If Gal 3:17 means it was 430 yrs from the promise to Abraham (Gen 15)
to the Exodus, then the time in Egypt was 215 yrs.
o If Acts 7:6 at it states then the bondage was 400 yrs!
o Solution: The promises were given to all three patriarchs (Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob) – the final confirmation of the promise was given to
Jacob en route to Egypt (Gen 46:1-4) at Beersheba. From there to the
Exodus was 400 yrs.
7:14 Stephen stated 75 persons were in Jacob’s family, but Gen 46:27 and Exo. 1:5
both state there were 70. The Septuagint (LXX) translation has 75 in both verses!
 Stephen, a Greek speaker, would have used the LXX, thus an “honest” mistake
 The Hebrew text included Jacob, Joseph and Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and
Manasseh (a total of 70), but the LXX omits Jacob and Joseph, but includes
Joseph’s seven grandchildren (ref in 1 Chron 7:14-16, 20-25). In the Hebrew of
Gen 46:8-26 there are 66 names which omit Jacob, Joseph and Joseph’s two
sons.
 Or the LXX includes the 66 plus the 9 wives of Jacob’s 12 sons (Judah’s and
Simeon’s wives had died and Joseph’s wife was in Egypt)
7:16 Stephen stated Jacob was buried at Shechem, but OT states they were buried at
the Cave of Machpelah at Hebron (Gen 49:29—50: 13). This included his wife Leah,
parents Isaac and Rebekah, and grandparents Abraham and Sarah.
 However, the bodies at Shechem did not include Jacob, but did include Joseph
and his brothers.
 Joseph was first buried in Egypt and reburied at Shechem (Gen 50:26; Ex 13:19;
Josh 24:32) – the latter verse only refers to Joseph’s bones, but evidently his
brothers were also buried at Shechem.
 The pronoun “their” (Acts 7:16) does not include Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but
look backward to the words “our fathers” in v. 15 and refers to Joseph and his
brothers.
7:16 Stephen stated “the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at
Shechem.” Problem: Actually Jacob, not Abraham, bought the plot of land (Gen 33:19).
 Actions by descendents are considered actions of forefathers. Abraham would be
given the title through Jacob.
Note: None of the three problems mentioned above were problems to Stephen’s audience
since they had long since resolved them and possessed knowledge we do not.
III. The Attack on Stephen (7: 53—8:1a)
When Stephen accused them of murdering the Righteous One [Messiah] and of not
obeying the laws given by angels, thus were guilty sinners, they became furious.
7:54-56 Sanhedrin’s response was to be furious (5:33) but Stephen was not
intimidated.
 Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit (6:3, 5, 10) and saw the glory of God and
Jesus standing on the right hand of God.
Logos Adult Bible Class
Acts 7
Dr. Don Fanning
o Normally the Lord Jesus is seated at God’s right hand (Ps 110:1; Rom
8:34; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Pet 3:22).
o The standing is seen as the welcoming of Stephen.
 The “Son of Man” (last time used in NT) declares Jesus as the Messiah from Dan
7:13-14.
 Text combines two great messianic passages (Dan 7:13-14 and Psa 110:1). Dan
7:13-14 emphasizes the universal or global aspect of his rule—not just Jewish
ruler, but is the Savior of the world.
 At God’s right hand he is the Mediator (1 Tim 2:5) for all men – implying that the
Temple benefit is minimal since man can go directly to him.
7:57-58 Response to Stephen’s message was violent.
 Blasphemy punishable by death (Lev 24:16) – Their forefathers worshiped
“Moloch” (7:43) and should been put to death (Lev 20:2).
 A young Jewish radical, Saul, facilitated the stoning by taking care of their outer
garments (Acts 8:1; 22:20).
7:59-60 Stephen replicates the spirit of Jesus: forgiving his enemies’ forgiveness (Luke
23:34, 46) and committing his spirit to the Lord.
 Stephen “fell asleep” – the body sleeps in death, but the spirit lives (Jn 11:11; 1
Thes 4:13, 15)
Logos Adult Bible Class
Acts 7
Dr. Don Fanning