文字起こし 🔗
WEBVTT
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.080
Welcome to the Bible Made Real podcast.
00:00:02.160 --> 00:00:03.279
I'm Kathy Abraham.
00:00:03.439 --> 00:00:06.160
We are continuing our Bible study in the book of Acts.
00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:12.960
Acts chapter seven is one of the most important speeches in all of the New Testament, is the speech of Stephen.
00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:21.440
Stephen, we just talked about, was um appointed as the deacon to serve the community, but he's also gifted.
00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:24.399
He's an evangelist and he is gifted to speak and preach.
00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:25.519
So they arrest him.
00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:36.560
He is in front of the council and he gives an entire, delivers this amazing speech, proving why they're wrong, proving why uh the plan of God throughout the entire scripture.
00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:38.000
He talks about Abraham.
00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:40.320
He talks about Moses, he talks about Joseph.
00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:46.960
Um, and he's basically saying, he's trying to prove to them uh God's work through history and salvation.
00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:49.600
So he talks about how Abraham was called by God.
00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:59.840
He talks about Joseph being rejected by his brothers and later uh becoming the deliverer, and how Moses was initially rejected, but then being sent by God.
00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:04.640
And he wants to show them this pattern of God's redemption and God's plan.
00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:06.640
And then he confronts them, right?
00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:07.760
And he addresses them.
00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:10.400
He calls them, you stiff-necked people.
00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:12.319
You always resist the Holy Spirit.
00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:22.239
Stephen is being super bold in his declaration about God and his defense about uh about God's um plan for humanity.
00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:24.159
So he's exposing them, right?
00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:26.400
And he is trying to teach them something.
00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:33.359
And then after all this, he explains the history of Egypt and the tabernacle and the temple.
00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:34.959
He has a vision.
00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:39.599
He sees heaven opening in verse 56.
00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:45.200
He says, Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.
00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:49.200
Then it says, They cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears.
00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:50.640
You know, they said we had enough.
00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:52.239
We cannot listen to this anymore.
00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:56.879
They ran out with him after him with one accord, cast him out of the city, and they stoned him.
00:01:57.040 --> 00:02:01.840
And the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:05.200
Okay, this is Saul who later becomes Paul.
00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:10.240
He is witnessing this entire stoning of Stephen, and it really changes him and transforms him.
00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:15.120
And then they stoned Stephen, and he started to call on God and listen to what he says.
00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:17.759
This is the very last breath that Stephen takes.
00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.960
He said, Lord, do not charge them with this sin.
00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:23.280
And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:25.199
Sounds exactly like Jesus, right?
00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:29.120
At the cross, when he was saying, Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do.
00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:31.120
Stephen is saying the same thing here.
00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:37.680
So the core message of the book of Acts is number one, God is not confined to a temple or a location or a system.
00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:49.280
Stephen is trying to make this super clear to them because the Jews are very, very set on the temple and worship in the temple, but God is always moving as he is moving with Abraham in Mesopotonia and Joseph in Egypt, right?
00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:51.039
And in the wilderness with Moses.
00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:54.719
Number two, people consistently resist God.
00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:56.000
He is telling them that.
00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:58.479
And this is the uncomfortable truth, okay?
00:02:58.800 --> 00:02:59.919
Joseph was rejected.
00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:04.080
Moses was rejected, the prophets were rejected, and Jesus is rejected.
00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:08.159
The issue is not lack of evidence, but it's their hardness of their heart.
00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:12.240
And then we see that the religious activity does not equal obedience.
00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:24.639
This, these people, uh, the Sadducees and the Pharisees and the religious counsel, they were, they knew the scripture, they held to their traditions, they preached and spoke in the temple, yet they resisted God.
00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:29.680
So we can be full of knowledge of God, yet our hearts can be far from the Lord.
00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:33.280
And this is what he's continually being calling, calling them out on.
00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:38.639
And then the last one is that the truth really um stands firm under pressure.
00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:39.120
Okay.
00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:40.560
Stephen doesn't compromise.
00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:43.439
He has the Holy Spirit like speaking through him.
00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:52.719
He is bold and he is teaching so clearly, and he's able to ask for forgiveness for those who are stoning him to death in his last hour.
00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:56.479
Truly, truly, truly, this is the work of the Holy Spirit.
00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:00.800
And this is kind of the pattern we see with all the martyrs throughout history, right?
00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:14.000
They get this supernatural, abundant ability to forgive and this grace at the end of their life to finish their race well at the end, the last breath uh leading to their martyrdom.
00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:22.000
So, Stephen, we often call him the first proto-martyr, proto-martyr, and the proto-deacon, the first deacon and the first martyr is uh St.
00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:22.720
Stephen.
00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:46.879
So I hope this quick overview on chapter seven, the book of Acts, really helps you understand the power of what's happening with Stephen's speech to encourage you and I to speak boldly and firmly and to not lose the eternal vision of what's really going on in this world, not to live in the comfort of today, but to speak for eternity like Stephen was, and to realize that your life also is affecting those around you.
00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:48.160
There's a ripple effect.
00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:55.120
Saul was close by watching this, and he was really affected by the stoning of Stephen because he saw the faith of Stephen.
00:04:55.279 --> 00:05:00.720
Something in him was changing and being stirred and being planted for what God was about to do in Saul.
00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.639
So know that your life also has an effect on those around you.
00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:17.439
When you step up boldly, when you are living a life of faith and your testimony and your witness is sure, and you're staying close to God and the gospel is being lived out in your life, other people around you are being changed.
00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:24.240
So I hope this encouraged you and I will see you next week as we continue our Bible study on the book of Acts.
00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:25.360
Have a great week.
00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:28.959
Thanks for joining me on the Bible Made Real Podcast.
00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:35.680
If today's episode encouraged you, make sure to hit follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.
00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:38.240
Your feedback helps us to reach more listeners.
00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:46.800
You can visit KathyAbraham.com to access free Bible study tools and sign up to receive my free weekly devotionals straight into your inbox.
00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:54.399
You can also follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Kathy Abiding Light for daily encouragement and behind the scenes content and updates.
00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:56.720
And I'll see you in the next episode.