(1) Refer back to the early verses of this chapter in which all 7 deacons were mentioned. Although Stephen was not an apostle, how special was he? What do you understand by the term that he was “full of grace”?
(2) We always stress the importance of using a gentle persuasive approach in evangelism. Do you think this is what happened with Stephen’s debate with these Greco-Jewish men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen? Why?
(3) We learned earlier that the religious leaders were afraid to take any action against the apostles. How did they manage to stir up people to turn against Stephen? We also like to emphasize the need not to offend other religions. Is it always possible? Why or why not?
(4) To what extent might the allegation that Stephen said “this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place (Jerusalem) and change the customs Moses handed down to us” might be true?
(5) Do you think Luke was being overly romantic in describing Stephen’s countenance? Why or why not?
(6) What can you learn from Stephen today?
The speech by Stephen was not so much his defense against the charge that he blasphemed both the Holy Land and the Law of Moses, but his bold accusation of the sins of the people by pointing out that:
A. Many significant encounters of the forefathers happened outside of Israel (i.e. land itself is not important)
B. Even the temple was not the real dwelling place of God,
C. The people of Israel had a history of mistreating God’s messenger, and
D. Now, they even killed Jesus, the Ultimate messenger of God
We shall reflect on the different parts of the history of Israel as retold by Stephen and see if you can pick up some of the above themes:
Vv. 1-8: Abraham
(1) Compare vv.2-3 here to Genesis 11:27-12:1. What additional information did Stephen give about the call of Abraham?
(2) How special was God’s promise to Abraham about the gift of land according to Stephen in v. 5?
(3) According to God’s prophecy, how would the land eventually be inherited by his descendants? And what was the ultimate purpose of granting them the land?
(4) Why is circumcision called, “the covenant of circumcision”? (See Gen. 17:9-14) What was the implication of Abraham’s obedience to this covenant?
(5) In this segment of Stephen’s retelling of the story of Abraham, which of the four themes mentioned in the beginning of today’s devotional guide can you identify?
(6) What is the main message to you today?
Vv. 9-19: Jacob and the 12 patriarchs
(1) What was the reason that Joseph had to end up in Egypt? As you recall this incident, what was the most horrible part of the crime of the brothers? (Gen. 37:18-28)
(2) Where did Joseph have his encounter with God? How special was his personal experience as a precursor of God’s act of salvation?
(3) What about the sinful patriarchs, how was their experience also a precursor of God’s act of salvation?
(4) When all these patriarchs died, did they see the fulfillment of the promise of God to Abraham? How did this promise come to pass “as the time drew near” (7:17)?
(5) How would you describe this period of Jewish history? By what was it marked?
(6) In this segment of Stephen’s retelling of the story of the patriarchs, can you identify some of the four themes mentioned earlier?
(7) What is the main message to you today?
Vv. 20-35: Moses
(1) What marked the first forty years of Moses’ life? If you were Moses, how would you view your life at that point?
(2) How was he treated by his own people and why?
(3) Where did Moses encounter God and when?
(4) In describing Moses and the burning bush, Stephen took care to describe the encounter and the dialogue in details. Why? (i.e. what might Stephen wish to emphasize to his hearers?)
(5) How did Stephen end this segment?
(6) In this segment of Stephen’s retelling of the story of the Moses, can you identify some of the four themes mentioned earlier?
(7) What is the main message today, and how would you act on it?
Vv. 36-44: Exodus
(1) Can you recall some of the most spectacular miracles the Israelites experienced during their forty years? Name at least three of them. Where did they happen?
(2) Stephen knew the crowd that held Moses in the highest regard and he quoted from the mouth of Moses what he prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15. What is the significance of this prophecy?
(3) Was the crowd’s esteem toward Moses justified and how does it speak to the horrific nature of the sins of their forefathers at the same time?
(4) What was the more severe punishment: Their exile into Babylon, or the fact that “God gave them over”? Why?
(5) Why did Stephen inject their exile into Babylon at the re-telling of the Exodus story?
(6) In this segment of Stephen’s retelling of the story of the Exodus, can you identify some of the four themes mentioned earlier?
(7) What is the main message to you today?
Vv. 45-53: The Dwelling of God
(1) How and where did God choose to reveal His presence among them during the exodus? What was it called? Why was it so called?
(2) Why did David wish to replace the tabernacle? In what way was he right? In what way was he wrong? (See 2 Sam. 7:2)
(3) What was the message that Stephen tried to get across to the crowd as he quoted both from 1 Kings 8:27 and Isaiah 66:1-2?
(4) How did Stephen wrap up the four themes with his final statements in vv. 51-53?
(5) Why did Stephen, of angelic-face and full-of-grace, launch such a severe attack on the crowd? Was it necessary? Did he not anticipate the outcome?
(6) What is the main message to you today?
The First recorded Martyr of the Christian Church
(1) They would not take the law into their hands with Jesus. Why would they perform such a murder openly with Stephen?
(2) V. 55 begins with the word, “but”. What does it mean?
(3) Usually the Bible refers to Jesus as “sitting at the right hand of God”, but now Stephen saw Jesus “stand” at the right hand of God. Have you wondered why?
(4) Why would God show such a vision to Stephen?
(5) Read Leviticus 24:14. How does it help you understand what the mobs did?
(6) Judging from Luke’s description, what role might Saul (who became Paul) have played in this incident?
(7) How did Stephen’s last words echo that of Jesus?
(8) You have reflected on the first seven chapters of Acts in the last little while. How did this incident change the course of the history of the first church?
(9) What is the main message to you today?