Book of Acts

The Bible Teacher's Commentary

Paul J. Bucknell

Steps to Participation in an Expanded Mission

Acts 7:1-8:25

A) A Theological Argument for Expansion with Proof from Stephen's Sermon (Acts 7:1-8:1)

The greatest things that happen to the church are often not deliberate or well thought through. More often than not, God’s people are blind to what God really wants, both in timing and in activity. We need God to intervene. While we might get excited about our personal plans, we often neglect God’s greater concerns for this world.

Studying a Passage in Context

1) How does it start?
2) What is its context? What were the allegations?
3) Analyze how he responded to the question.

“Are these things so?” (Acts 7:1)
“We heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God” (Acts 6:11).
“We have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us” (Acts 6:14).

Making Observations in this passage

What people are actually mentioned? What is said of persecution and opposition? What is said about the Law and God’s house?

When God specially reveals Himself to His people, they often find difficulties and opposition. The Law is one great revealing of God’s glory, but the people rejected the Lawgiver and the Law.

Making Conclusions for this passage

Stephen was accused of speaking against “this holy place and the Law,” but we find that the Old Testament already spoke about them. The Old Testament revealed that a greater one was coming who would reveal truth and righteousness and that no place on earth could suit His majesty.

Persecutors

Acts 7:51

Shall raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren (Acts 7:37).

Jesus was this prophet who was rejected by His people. Inasmuch as the Jewish leaders rejected Christ, they rejected God. Those who persecute the righteous ones that God sends are those who keep not the Law (not Stephen). It is at this point that the Jewish leaders stoned Stephen (illegally) and proved their hardened hearts. They prove by Stephen’s stoning that they have rejected God and His Law.

Summary

Stephen provided here a theological argument that God indeed has rejected working through the Jewish nation as a whole and has now commenced His plan to reach out to the nations. The words about Abraham show that Jesus, like Abraham, did not receive an inheritance while here on earth, but that it would be found in His offspring found in a foreign land (non-Jews). Romans 4:16 shows that we who believe in Christ are Abraham’s seed. The Gospel is for the world.