*Acts 7:1-29
In his defense speech before the Sanhedrin, Stephen recounts Israel’s history, emphasizing God’s faithfulness and their ancestors’ rejection of prophets.
- Stephen’s Defense and Recap of Jewish History:
- Stephen begins his defense by addressing the council as “Brothers and fathers,” showing respect and acknowledging their authority.
- He recounts the history of Abraham, emphasizing God’s call for him to leave Mesopotamia and settle in Canaan, even though he was not given any inheritance there, only a promise that it would belong to his descendants.
- Stephen highlights the covenant of circumcision as a sign of this promise and mentions Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve patriarchs.
- Joseph’s Story:
- Stephen transitions to the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers but was ultimately exalted by God to a position of authority because of his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams.
- He describes the famine that brought Jacob and the patriarchs to Egypt, where Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers and invited them to live in Egypt, thus saving them from starvation.
- Stephen points out that God was with Joseph in Egypt, helping him overcome adversity and fulfill his destiny.
- The Oppression of the Israelites:
- Moving forward, Stephen talks about a new king who did not know Joseph coming to power in Egypt. This pharaoh enslaved and oppressed the Israelites, treating them cruelly.
- He discusses the cruel decree of Pharaoh to kill every newborn Hebrew boy, setting the stage for the birth of Moses.
- Moses’ Early Life:
- Stephen recounts the birth and upbringing of Moses, who was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter and educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, becoming powerful in speech and action.
- He describes Moses’ visit to his fellow Israelites at the age of 40, during which he sees an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. Moses intervenes and kills the Egyptian, thinking his brethren would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not understand.
- The next day, Moses tries to mediate a dispute between two Israelites, only to be rejected and questioned about his authority and his previous action of killing the Egyptian.
- Fearing for his life after his deed becomes known, Moses flees to Midian, where he settles as a foreigner and starts a new life.
Acts 7:1-29 reminds us to trust in God’s plan, even when we don’t see the full picture. Stephen retells the story of Abraham and Moses, showing how God was always at work, even during difficult times. Moses faced rejection and challenges, but God was preparing him for something greater. We can apply this by remembering that setbacks and struggles don’t mean God has forgotten us. Instead of losing hope, we should trust that He is guiding us, even when the journey seems unclear. His timing is perfect, and He can use every part of our story for a greater purpose.
Acts 7:1-29 (WEB)
7:1 The high priest said, “Are these things so?”2 He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your land and away from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’ 4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him, when he still had no child. 6 God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 7 ‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serve me in this place.’ 8 He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.9 “The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. 13 On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was revealed to Pharaoh. 14 Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. 15 Jacob went down into Egypt and he died, himself and our fathers; 16 and they were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem.17 “But as the time of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until there arose a different king who didn’t know Joseph. 19 The same took advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to abandon their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive. 20 At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome to God. He was nourished three months in his father’s house. 21 When he was abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and reared him as her own son. 22 Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works. 23 But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn’t understand.26 “The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.