Acts Studies

Stephen was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 6:3 & 7:55) and it even showed in his face. (Acts 6:15) So God was speaking through him here, just as Jesus had promised in Mark 13:11

Stephen reviews the history of Israel to make a point - that God used the men that Israel rejected to deliver them. (Vs 35, Mat 21:42) God started His nation from Abraham, and told him of the future bondage and deliverance of his decedents.(Gen 15:13-18) Then Jacob’s 10 boys envied their brother Joseph, and sold him into slavery. But God used Joseph to save the family from famine.(Gen 45:4-7) 400 years later, in Egypt, Moses offers to help Israel, but they reject him. (Ex 2:11-14) But later God sends him back to deliver Israel out of slavery. (Ex 3:7-10)

In all of Israel’s history, there never was a prophet that did as many signs and wonders as Moses. "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt...." (Deut 34:10,11) But even after all the signs and wonders, Israel still rejected Moses again and again in the wilderness. (Vs 39; Ex 14:11,12; 16:2,3; 17:1-4)

But Moses had said there would be a prophet like him coming. (Vs 37; Deut 18:18,19) It wasn’t David or Solomon, who Stephen only briefly mentions in verses 45–47.

Then Stephen delivers God’s bombshell. "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted: and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."

The people sitting in front of Stephen had done worse than their fathers who killed the prophets. (Luke 11:47-51) They had murdered the Christ Himself, the One who did more signs and wonders than Moses, (John 21:25) the One who was going to deliver them from under Gentile rule. (Is 9:6,7) Jesus had said they could be forgiven for speaking against Him, even killing Him, (Luke 23:34) but they would not be forgiven for speaking against the Holy Ghost. (Mat 12:31,32; Luke 12:10) And now God the Holy Ghost was speaking to them through Stephen, trying to get them to recognize their sin and get forgiven. What a critical decision they were making for their nation and for themselves!

These Jews believed that if they were descended from Abraham, were circumcised, and observed the law, they would surely be accepted by God. (John 8:33,39) But God looks at the heart attitude, and from His viewpoint, these Jews were uncircumcised and did not keep the law. (Mat 3:9; Luke 16:15; Rom 2:23-29) Being uncircumcised meant they had broken God’s covenant and would be "cut off" from God’s people. (Gen 17:10-14; Jer 31:32)

In the program of prophecy, there was no turning back for these Jews if they blasphemed the Holy Ghost. (Mat 12:31,32) But as we now read in Paul’s letters, God in His mercy, granted them individually yet another chance by interrupting prophecy and offering salvation along with the Gentiles through a new message. (Rom10:11-14; Col 1:25,26) Paul himself could not have been forgiven in the prophetic program because he was a blasphemer, (I Tim 1:13) so we know that the program changed at, or shortly before, his conversion. Notice that up until here there are still no Gentiles involved.

What Stephen saw in verses 55 and 56 is very significant. He saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God in the heavens. Psalms 110:1 says "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool". Isaiah 2:19,21 says when He arises, He will "shake terribly the earth", and Isaiah 3:13 says, "The LORD... standeth to judge the people" God’s wrath and judgment was next!.

Stephen’s audience knew these scriptures. They were the doctors of the law of Moses. This was the last thing they wanted to believe, or wanted anyone else to hear. "With one accord" they all rose up and stoned Stephen.

In the parable of Luke 19:11–15, Jesus is the nobleman who "went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. ..... But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us." Killing Stephen was certainly a clear message from them that they did not want Jesus to reign over them.

At this time, Israel made their decision. This is when the nation of Israel fell. (Rom 11:12) They declared war on God, and the persecution of His people began in earnest. (Acts 8:1) As Jesus predicted in Luke 21:12 and 22, "... they shall lay hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. .... For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." The tribulation had begun, and God’s wrath was coming. Next would be the 70^th week of Daniel (Dan 9:24-27), Christ’s return in fire to judge (Nahum 1:5,6; Zech 14:1-5; Rev 19:11-16) and then the kingdom of peace on earth, (Is 11:9) as prophesied "since the world began" (Acts 3:21)

Why did all that not continue? Because God had a secret purpose, that was not prophesied, but which He had planned before the world began, to save a group of people of all nations to be His "body" in the heavenly places. (Eph 1:4; 2:5,6,16; 3:1-6) God not only will regain control of the earth through Israel as prophesied, but by interrupting prophecy and introducing this new program, He will also occupy the heavenly places with His body, thereby gaining a double victory over His adversary, Satan.

If Satan had known this, he would "not have crucified the Lord of glory." (I Cor 2:7,8) "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Rom 11:33)

In verse 38, the word "church" is used. In the Old Testament, the word "congregation" is usually used instead. But this verse shows that God has had a church of believers in every age.