Day 322 – Acts 7-8

Talking Points

• Stephen preaches to the Jews. He doesn’t proclaim a strange or new message, but the familiar message of God’s work in and through the Jewish people — work that would produce and identify the Messiah.
• In his sermon, Stephen reminds the Jewish people that God knows our hearts. After being miraculously delivered from slavery and oppression in Egypt, God’s people had quickly forgotten and “in their hearts turned back to Egypt” (7:39). Let this be a reminder to us, today, who have been miraculously delivered from the slavery and oppression of sin.
• Jesus appears to Stephen, “standing at the right hand of God,” a priestly position, as He ministers to Stephen in his moment of need (7:55).
• It is clear — Stephen preached the gospel to his brethren out of sincere love for them. What began with the passionate plea to his people, “Hear me, brethren and fathers!” ended with an earnest plea to God, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (7:2, 60).
• “A young man named Saul” (better known as Paul) witnesses the stoning of Stephen, and is “in hearty agreement with putting him to death” (7:58, 8:1). The persecution escalates, yet the gospel spreads. God truly is able to “[cause] all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
• In Acts chapter 8, we find the second of three recorded events of a delayed coming of the Holy Spirit of God (the first being when the Holy Spirit first filled the Jews at Pentecost). The Samaritans believed the gospel and were baptized. However, they were not filled with the Holy Spirit until Peter and John, apostles, came and laid hands on them. This was not the normal sequence but showed the need for clarity in the gospel and unity in belief. Later, the New Testament states that the church was built “on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 2:20). Today, believers should see this for what it is — an accurate retelling of these events, not a normative practice in the church.
• Phillip reveals the pattern for New Testament evangelism. He uses the Scriptures to announce and confirm Jesus as the Messiah.
• Baptism is by immersion and after salvation.

Thoughts

In his retelling of the history of the Jewish people, Stephen indicts those in his hearing who are unbelieving. He charges them with “betraying and murdering” Jesus, “the Righteous One” (Acts 7:52). The Bible records their response to this confrontation with their sin — “they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him” (7:54). It means they were cut to the heart, or sawn through and through, and they reacted in animalistic rage. People generally react in one of four ways when their sin is brought to their attention. They either respond in hostile fury, apathetic trivialization, defensive justification, or sorrowful repentance.

The truth is, it is a merciful and gracious act of God to reveal our sinfulness. It is only in the conviction that follows that we can truly see our need for our Savior, turn to Him in faith, and be saved. May we be wise and respond to any confrontation with our sin by repenting from it and thanking the Lord for His mercy and grace.

“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” — 2 Corinthians 7:10