Acts - Week 24

Week 24 Acts 7 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 7:51-52 

51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered.” 

In his message, Stephen now turns from reviewing Israel’s history and the prophets they had rejected. He focuses in on the guilt of the present generation. Although those in the high court thought circumcision was so important, Stephen now refers to them as “uncircumcised at heart.” That makes them as bad as the godless Gentiles they despised. Their ancestors had even murdered some of those who predicted the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.  

REFLECT 

Think about how important it is even now when talking about the past to apply it to the present culture. 

RESPOND 

Read Deuteronomy 10:16 and Jeremiah 4:4 to see that male circumcision for Israel was God’s intent to show Israel the need to have a circumcised heart.  

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 7:53-54 

53 “You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.” 54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.” 

Often sermon applications do not strike home to hearts, but the Jewish leaders knew exactly what Stephen was accusing them of. Think of it! Stephen told them they had “deliberately disobeyed God’s law.” Nothing could have been more condemning and offensive to them. Their anger was suddenly uncontrollable. They had sought to put Stephen on trial but he had put them on trial and found them guilty. 

REFLECT 

This is a lesson to see how Stephen used the Old Testament to talk to his generation about the Messiah. You can also use its principles to talk to your generation. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about the need to know the Bible better so you both can point out the sins of the generation in which you are living. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 7:55-56 

55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” 

Although the high court thought Stephen was the blasphemer, these verses reveal he had the blessing of God. As he looked into heaven he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. Jesus is usually spoken of as sitting at the Father’s right hand. Perhaps this is a picture of Jesus welcoming Stephen home. Stephen told the unbelieving Jews he saw the Son of Man. This was an indication of Jesus’ humanity and that He came to die on the cross.  

REFLECT 

Although you will not have the same view that Stephen had, be assured that God will welcome all believers home to be with Him someday. 

RESPOND 

Read John 14:1-3 to see that Jesus is even now preparing a place for believers and will someday come to get them so they can be with Him. Believers who die before that time go to be with Jesus. The entire body of Christ will be caught up to meet Him in the air someday. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 in this regard. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 7:57-58 

57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. 

The unbelievers in the Jewish highest legislative body did not want to hear any more. They dragged Stephen out of the city and began stoning him. Notice the one standing by their coats, “a young man named Saul.” Likely from childhood he had two names: his Hebrew name was Saul and his Greek name was Paul. He will be a prominent person in the rest of Acts.  

REFLECT 

This is a reminder of what some believers have gone through as they proclaimed the message of the resurrected Jesus. In some countries even now some may be dying for their faith just by claiming to be a followers of Jesus. 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, read Acts 22:17-20 to see Paul rehearsing this time when he was actually approving of Stephen’s death. He was in complete agreement at that time with the death of Stephen. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 7:59-60 

59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. 

Stephen was the first martyr of the early Church. As he was dying, he prayed for the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. Similar to what Jesus said on the cross, Stephen “fell to his knees, shouting, ‘Lord, don’t charge them with this sin.’” What a sad but triumphant home going for Stephen. His last breath on earth was his first breath in heaven with Jesus. The same is true for each believer who dies. Hopefully believers will not suffer the same death as Stephen, but the same eternity is waiting for them. 

REFLECT 

Is your hope fixed on God? Do you have the confidence that when you pass away you will go to be with Jesus? John 3:16 is Jesus’ promise that you can be confident of eternal life. 

RESPOND 

Read Luke 23:34-46 to see that Stephen’s words were similar to what the Lord Jesus prayed at the end of His earthly life. For comfort when a believing loved one dies, see Jesus’ words to in John 11:25.