Acts 7 The Conversion of Saul

1 Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin
Then the high priest asked him, “Are these charges true?”

2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran.

3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’

4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.

5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.

6 God spoke to him in this way: ‘Your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’

8 Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

9 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

11 “Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our fathers could not find food.

12 When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.

13 On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family.

14 After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all.

15 Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.

16 Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

17 “As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased.

18 Then another king, who knew nothing about Joseph, became ruler of Egypt.

19 He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.

20 “At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for in his father’s house.

21 When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.

22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

23 “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow Israelites.

24 He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian.

25 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not.

26 The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’

27 “But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?

28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’

29 When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.

30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.

31 When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord’s voice:

32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

33 “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground.

34 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

35 “This is the same Moses whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

36 He led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the desert.

37 “This is that Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will send you a prophet like me from your own people.’

38 He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us.

39 “But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

40 They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’

41 That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and held a celebration in honor of what their hands had made.

42 But God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the desert, O house of Israel?

43 You have lifted up the shrine of Molech
and the star of your god Rephan,
the idols you made to worship.
Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon.

44 “Our forefathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the desert. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.

45 Having received the tabernacle, our fathers under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David,

46 who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

47 But it was Solomon who built the house for him.

48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says:

49 “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?

50 Has not my hand made all these things?’

51 “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—

53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

54 The Stoning of Stephen
When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,

58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

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Analysis of Acts Chapter 7

Acts Chapter 7 stands as one of the most vital chapters in the Book of Acts, encapsulating the profound speech of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. This chapter forms a bridge between the early formation of the Christian church and the severe persecution that eventually led to its expansion beyond Jerusalem. Stephen’s discourse, an eloquent and courageous recount of Israel’s history, is both a defense of his faith and an indictment of the Jewish leaders’ resistance to God’s message.

Verses 1-2: Setting the Scene

The chapter opens with the high priest asking Stephen if the accusations against him were true. The charges laid upon Stephen included blasphemy against Moses, God, the Temple, and the Law (Acts 6:11-14). Stephen’s response signifies the beginning of his sermon, addressing the high priest with respect, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me!” Stephen’s choice of address reflects his strategy to establish common ground with his audience.

Verses 2-8: The Call of Abraham

Stephen begins his historical recount with Abraham, whom God called while he was still in Mesopotamia (Ur of the Chaldeans). Stephen emphasizes the element of divine initiative — it was God who chose Abraham and made a covenant with him. The narrative demonstrates that the story of the Israelites started not from their ancestors’ merit but from God’s sovereign plan.

**God’s initiative**: God revealed Himself to Abraham before he settled in Haran. This underscores the precedence of divine revelation over geographical or temple-bound piety.
**The Promise**: The promise of land, though Abraham lived as a foreigner in Canaan without inheritance, underscores the theme of faith and future fulfillment.
**The Covenant of Circumcision**: God’s covenant was sealed through circumcision, marking a divine claim over Abraham’s descendants, and a physical sign of their distinct identity.

Verses 9-16: Joseph and the Patriarchs

Moving forward, Stephen recounts the story of Joseph. His recount covers the jealousy and betrayal by Joseph’s brothers, yet highlights God’s unwavering presence with Joseph in Egypt, leading to his rise in power and eventual reconciliation with his family. The narrative serves multiple purposes:

**Providence in Trials**: Despite human betrayal, God’s plans triumphed. Joseph’s story is a testament to God’s providence turning evil intentions for a greater good.
**A Parallel to Jesus**: Stephen subtly draws a parallel between Joseph, the rejected savior of his brothers, and Jesus, whom the Jewish leaders rejected but whom God exalted.

Verses 17-29: Moses’ Early Life

Stephen then shifts to Moses, signifying a transition from the patriarchs to the deliverers. Stephen recounts Moses’ miraculous survival as an infant, his Egyptian upbringing, and his defense of an Israelite, culminating in his flight to Midian.

**Israel’s Growth**: The multiplication of Israel in Egypt fulfills God’s promise to Abraham, but also sets the stage for their enslavement, a precursor to their need for deliverance.
**Moses’ Dual Identity**: Raised as an Egyptian prince but inherently Hebrew, Moses symbolizes the duality of belonging and separation, an image of the Israelites’ own journey of identity and separation from Egyptian culture.
**First Attempt at Deliverance**: Moses’ initial, failed attempt to mediate between his brethren foreshadows his future role as a deliverer. The rejection by his people hints at a recurring theme of resistance to God’s chosen leaders.

Verses 30-43: Moses’ Call and Mission

Stephen vividly describes Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush and his subsequent mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Here, several critical elements are emphasized:

**Divine Encounter**: The burning bush symbolizes God’s holiness and His direct intervention in human affairs. Moses’ removal of sandals signifies reverence and purification.
**God’s Faithfulness**: God’s declaration, “I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt,” reiterates His unchanging commitment to His covenant and His awareness of His people’s plight.
**Miraculous Deliverance**: The depiction of signs and wonders serves to reinforce God’s power and validate Moses’ role as His appointed emissary.
**Israel’s Stubbornness**: The constant rebellion of the Israelites despite witnessing God’s miracles reflects the persistent theme of resistance to divine guidance and leadership.
**Idolatry**: The golden calf incident serves as a critical indictment of idolatry and disobedience. This underscores the recurring problem of turning away from God’s decrees.

Verses 44-50: The Tabernacle and the Temple

Stephen continues by speaking about the tabernacle, constructed according to divine instructions, and juxtaposes it with Solomon’s Temple.

**God’s Presence**: The tabernacle was a symbol of God’s dwelling among His people, emphasizing that God is not confined to human-made structures.
**Transcendence of God**: By citing Isaiah 66:1-2, Stephen underscores that the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. This challenges the Jewish leaders’ temple-centric piety and highlights a greater understanding of God’s omnipresence.
**Critique of Misplaced Zeal**: The emphasis on the temple by the Jewish leaders is critiqued as they missed the covenant’s true essence and the broader call to righteousness and justice.

Verses 51-53: Stephen’s Indictment

Stephen’s speech reaches its climax with a stern indictment of his listeners. He calls them “stiff-necked people” with “uncircumcised hearts and ears.” This harsh rebuke serves multiple purposes:

**Continuity of Rebellion**: By labeling them as stiff-necked and unyielding, Stephen ties them to their forefathers who resisted God’s messengers and command.
**Spiritual Insensitivity**: The imagery of uncircumcised hearts and ears points to deep-seated spiritual insensitivity and resistance to the Holy Spirit.
**Murder of the Righteous One**: The ultimate accusation is their betrayal and murder of the “Righteous One” (Jesus), positioning their resistance as the culmination of a long history of rejecting God’s messengers.

Verses 54-60: Stephen’s Martyrdom

The conclusion of Stephen’s speech is met with violent outrage. The narrative of his martyrdom highlights critical theological and spiritual insights:

**Vision of Glory**: Stephen’s declaration of seeing the “Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” is a powerful testimony to Christ’s exaltation and dominion. The vision serves as divine affirmation of Stephen’s witness and Jesus’ messianic role.
**Martyr’s Grace**: Stephen’s final prayer, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” mirrors Jesus’ own words on the cross. This act of forgiveness exemplifies the ultimate Christian virtue of unconditional love and grace towards one’s persecutors.
**Saul’s Presence**: Saul (later Paul) witnessing Stephen’s execution sets the stage for a significant transformation. His later conversion and apostleship provide a profound narrative of redemption and the far-reaching impact of Stephen’s testimony.

Conclusion: Theological and Practical Implications

Acts Chapter 7 is a theological and narrative masterpiece, rich with historical recount and prophetic critique. Several overarching themes and lessons emerge:

1. Faith and Obedience over Location and Ritual

Stephen’s narrative underscores that God’s work and presence transcend physical locations (such as the Temple) and rituals. True faith is exhibited through obedience to God’s revelations and responsiveness to His messengers. This challenges any form of complacency or misplaced religiosity that prioritizes structures over substance.

2. God’s Sovereignty and Providence

The recounting of Israel’s history reveals God’s sovereign hand in guiding, preserving, and fulfilling His promises despite human opposition and failure. The stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses illustrate how God’s plans are unfailingly realized, often through unexpected and adverse circumstances.

3. The Recurrent Theme of Rejection

Stephen’s speech vividly portrays a pattern of rejection towards God’s chosen leaders: Joseph by his brothers, Moses by the Israelites, and ultimately Jesus by the Jewish authorities. This continuing resistance highlights human obstinacy and spiritual blindness, calling for introspection and repentance.

4. Martyrdom as Witness

Stephen’s martyrdom establishes a theological benchmark for Christian witness. His vision of Christ’s glory and his forgiving spirit under persecution exemplify the profound hope, courage, and love integral to the Christian faith. Martyrdom is depicted not as defeat but as a powerful testimony to the truth of the Gospel.

5. The Role of the Holy Spirit

The chapter repeatedly emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding, empowering, and comforting believers amidst persecution. Stephen’s Spirit-filled wisdom and vision reflect the active presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life and mission.

In summation, Acts Chapter 7 offers deep spiritual, theological, and historical insights. Stephen’s speech is a clarion call to genuine faith, expansive vision, and courageous witness, encouraging believers to align their lives with the divine narrative of redemption and kingdom advancement.

Understanding the Key Messages in Acts 7: Insights and Explanation

In Acts 7, Stephen gives a powerful defense of his faith before the Jewish council, but they respond with anger and stone him to death. Meanwhile, a young man named Saul approves of Stephen's execution and begins persecuting the Church. However, on his way to Damascus, Saul encounters a blinding light and hears the voice of Jesus, who reveals Himself and directs Saul to go into the city. Saul is left blind for three days until a disciple named Ananias restores his sight, baptizes him, and commissions him as an apostle.

Notes

This chapter is a pivotal moment in the spread of Christianity, as it marks the conversion of Saul, who later becomes the apostle Paul and writes many of the New Testament letters.