Acts 7:37-60
Q.1. How did Israel respond to the message of Moses? Why did God reject Israel’s sacrifices? – (Acts 7:37-43)
Though Moses received – 38 … living oracles to pass on to you. 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt (Acts 7:38-39). Stephen reminded these leaders about Israel’s terrible idolatry in the wilderness. He quoted the Scriptures, of which they would have been aware. God had given their disobedient fathers up. Stephen implied that these leaders were the same, and that God would treat them the same way (Acts 7:41-43 c.f. Ps.95:7-11; Am.5:25-27).
Q.2. Where did Moses get his design for the Tabernacle? Can God be confined to a human building? Why? (Acts 7:44-50 c.f. Is.66:1-2)
Stephen then told them that the Tabernacle was given to Moses as a pattern of the Heavenly one. Their attachment to the temple overlooked a fact that they knew only too well from Isaiah – 48 the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: 49 Heaven is My throne, and earth is the footstool of My feet; What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,or what place is there for My repose? 50 `Was it not My hand which made all these things?’ (Acts 7:48-50 c.f. Is.66:1-2). Stephen dismantled their reliance on rules and systems. This needed to be replaced by dependence on the Living God.
Q.3. Why were the Jewish leaders so offended by Stephen? How do we know that Paul supported the killers? How did Stephen react to his murderers? Why? – (Acts 7:51-60)
Stephen accused the religious leaders of resisting the Holy Spirit and persecuting the prophets, exactly the same as the previous generations had done. He then declared that the Righteous One, foretold by the prophets, had been betrayed and murdered by them. He even exposed their failure to keep the Law ordained by angels (Acts 7:51-53). Their rage against Stephen boiled over. They covered their ears when Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit testified – … “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56). The narrative gives us the first mention of Saul. It indicates that he was part of the group who killed Stephen (Acts 7:58). Just as his Master did, Stephen prayed for his murderers ((Acts 7:60). Luke also shared some beautiful insights into the violent death of God’s servant: (i) Before he died, Stephen saw a vision of the glory of God (Acts 7:55). (ii) He saw Jesus standing in readiness to receive him (Acts 7:55-56). (iii) The stoning must have been agony, but Stephen simply fell asleep (Acts 7:60). The death of believers lifts them to a new level of relationship, on earth and in Heaven (Ps.116:15 c.f. Eph.1:20; 2:6).