Lesson 11:
The Stirring Sermon &
Senseless Stoning of Stephen (7:1-60)
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
A. Stephen was arrested and put on trial at the end of chapter 6
(6:11-16).
1. He was accused of speaking blasphemously against: Moses, God, the
temple, the law.
B. Stephen’s inspired defense first emphasized that God’s
presence, favor and rule were not confined to “the holy land”
of Israel or “this holy place” of the temple (7:2-34).
1. The Lord appeared to and instructed Abraham when he was in
Mesopotamia (7:2-3).
2. The Lord appeared again to and instructed Abraham when he was in
Haran (7:4).
3. The Lord traveled with and made a covenant with Abraham while in
Canaan (7:5-8).
4. The Lord was present with and active in the life of Joseph while in
Egypt (7:9-14).
5. The Lord went with the patriarch Jacob down to Egypt (7:15-16).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
A. Stephen was arrested and put on trial at the end of chapter 6
(6:11-16).
1. He was accused of speaking blasphemously against: Moses, God, the
temple, the law.
B. Stephen’s inspired defense first emphasized that God’s
presence, favor and rule were not confined to “the holy land”
of Israel or “this holy place” of the temple (7:2-34).
6. The Lord blessed His nation to grow and multiply while in Egypt (7:17).
7. The Lord was well pleased to save baby Moses from death in Egypt
(7:20-21).
8. The Lord protected Moses in Egypt & went with him to the land of
Midian (7:23-29).
9. The Lord appeared to and spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai
(7:30-34).
10.The Lord, in order to deliver His people, sent Moses back to Egypt
(7:34).
II. Significant Truths from this
Passage for Our Understanding
A. God sees the big picture and controls the big picture for
His people!
1. He foretold that His descendants would live in bondage &
oppression in Egypt (7:6).
2. Still, God foretold that He would punish the oppressors and
deliver His people (7:7).
B. The providence of God in the lives of His individual
children is a marvelous thing to see!
1. Joseph went from being “sold into Egypt” to selling grain as
governor over Egypt!
2. When God’s children “found no sustenance,” God already had it
for them in Egypt!
C. God sees and hears when His people are in trouble!
1. “I have surely seen…I have heard…I have come down to deliver
them” (7:34).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
C. Stephen’s inspired defense second emphasized the
willful inclination characteristic of Israel (from its
beginning) toward outright rebellion and rejection of
God (7:35-53).
1. Stephen was accused of speaking against Moses, God, the
temple and the law, while, in fact, his accusers were the
ones guilty of such rebellion throughout history.
2. Stephen pointed to the fathers as the ones who truly
rejected Moses (7:35-40).
a) God sent Moses to be a ruler and deliverer (7:35-36), but Israel
rejected him.
b) Moses did wonders and signs and he received “the living oracles”
(7:36-38).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
C. Stephen’s inspired defense second emphasized the
willful inclination characteristic of Israel (from its
beginning) toward outright rebellion and rejection of
God (7:35-53).
3. Stephen pointed to the fathers as the ones who rejected
God & were rejected (40-43).
a) Israel demanded “gods” to be made for them to worship (7:40).
b) Israel made a calf (the idol) and bowed to the work of their own
hands (7:41).
c) Israel not only bowed to their own idol but served pagan gods also
(7:42-43).
d) God gave them up to serve/worship even the heavenly bodies
(7:42).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
C. Stephen’s inspired defense second emphasized the
willful inclination characteristic of Israel (from its
beginning) toward outright rebellion and rejection of
God (7:35-53).
4. Stephen pointed to the fathers as ones who worshiped
without a temple (7:44-50).
a) The tabernacle was planned and constructed at the command of
God (7:44-45).
b) The temple was desired/planned by David, then constructed by
Solomon (7:46-47).
c) God’s prophet said that God “does not dwell in temples made with
hands” (7:48).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
C. Stephen’s inspired defense second emphasized the
willful inclination characteristic of Israel (from its
beginning) toward outright rebellion and rejection of
God (7:35-53).
5. Stephen pointed to the fathers (& his accusers) as ones
who violated the law (51-53).
a) The entire thrust of Jewish history & prophecy was to prepare for
Christ (Gal. 3:24).
b) The fathers rejected & persecuted all of the prophets and killed
them (7:35, 52).
II. Significant Truths from this
Passage for Our Understanding
D. God’s Word truly is “the living oracles” (7:38)!
1. It is from “the living God” (14:15; Heb. 3:12) and it gives life
(Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:23).
E. God gives patterns for how He wants things done to
be pleasing to Him (cf. 2 Tim. 1:13).
F. The Most High does not dwell in buildings but in the
hearts of His people (John 14:23).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
D. Stephen’s inspired defense closed with a severe and
stinging rebuke (7:51-53).
1. “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!”
(7:51) – stubborn pagans!
2. “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (7:52).
3. “You now have become the betrayers and murders” of your
own Messiah (7:52).
4. You “have received the law…and have not kept it” (7:53).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
E. Stephen’s sermon enraged his accusers to violence &
an illegal mob execution (7:54-60).
1. His hearers were “cut to the heart” (sawn asunder with
anger like 5:33, not 2:37).
a) They gnashed at him with their teeth (7:54), cried out with a loud
voice, stopped their ears, rushed at him, cast him out of the city &
“were stoning” him (7:57-58).
b) The 70-member Sanhedrin council led the way.
c) Young Saul was present, approving of the action and standing
guard (7:58).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
E. Stephen’s sermon enraged his accusers to violence &
an illegal mob execution (7:54-60).
2. As the first martyr for the cause of Christ, Stephen was
remarkably focused!
a) He “gazed into heaven” & saw “Jesus standing at the right hand of
God” (7:55-56).
b) He kept on calling on the Lord: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”
(7:59).
c) He knelt down in reverence: “Lord, do not charge them with this
sin” (7:60).
d) There are remarkable parallels between events in Stephen’s death
& Jesus’ death.
3. This first killing of a Christian led to “a great persecution
against the church” (8:1).
II. Significant Truths from this
Passage for Our Understanding
G. There is life after death (7:59-60).
1. When the body dies, the spirit separates from the body
and survives (cf. Jas. 2:26).
2. The spirit of the faithful will be with the Lord (Phil. 1:23)
and conscious (Rev. 6:9-11).
3. By means of His resurrection, Jesus is Lord of both the dead
& the living (cf. Ro. 14:9).
III. Practical Points of Application
for Our Lives
A. God is with us at all times and will deliver us out of the
troubles and trials of life!
B. How absurd it is to elevate and serve the work of our own
hands over the Almighty God!
C. In times of trouble, may God help us to look to Jesus and set
our sights on things above!
D. Stephen did not waver in his trust in the Lord! May we not
waver in our trust in Him!