STEPHEN, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR ACTS SEVEN In Acts chapter seven Stephen is asked to defend himself against the charges that he had "spoken blasphemous words against Moses, and against God." This good man was charged as one that was a blasphemer of God. That would have made him an apostate from... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CALL OF ABRAHAM ACTS 7:1-8:_ The High Priest wanted to know if the things said about Stephen were true. Stephen's faith in Hebrew history was strong because he knew it was God at work. Stephen began his defense by showing that God called Abraham to leave Mesopotamia. He said, "Get thee out of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE JEWISH NATION AND THE LAND OF EGYPT ACTS 7:9-43:_ The patriarchs sold Joseph into Egypt. Envy caused Joseph's brothers to sell him into Egypt as a slave. God was with Joseph and gave him favor with the Pharaoh of Egypt. He became governor over that land. A dearth or famine over all the land cau... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE TRUE TABERNACLE OF GOD ACTS 7:44-50:_ Israel had the tabernacle of witness. The tabernacle was built according to the pattern shown Moses. The Tabernacle was a perpetual witness between God and the people. Later the people had the temple. Yet "the most High dwelleth not in temples made with han... [ Continue Reading ]
_STEPHEN, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR ACTS 7:51-60:_ Stephen charged the people with: (1) being stiff necked, (2) uncircumcised in heart, (3) resisting the Holy Ghost, and (4) failing to keep the word of God. "When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with thei... [ Continue Reading ]