*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.
7:1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 7:2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 7:3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
7:4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
7:5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
7:6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
7:7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
7:8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
7:9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 7:10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
7:11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
7:12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
7:13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
7:14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
7:15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 7:16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
7:17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 7:18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
7:19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
7:20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months: 7:21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
7:23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
7:24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 7:25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
7:26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 7:27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 7:28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? 7:29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.