Acts of the Apostles

Chapter 7

Personal study: The numbers on the left side are verse numbers.

Stephen made his defense (apologia) or better his witness before the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin. Naturally he starts with the Old Testament. Why?

List the key NAMES and EVENTS in Stephen’s talk:

One can imagine these Jewish scholars saying, "Yes, yes, we know all this!"

What vital lessons can you learn from God’s dealing with:

• Abraham

• Joseph

• Moses

• David/Solomon

Finally in vs 37-53, Stephen makes his point….and his point is?

What was the purpose of the Tabernacle (Tent of Meeting) and later the Temple?

Why did the Lord require the Tabernacle to be made according to special "blueprints"?

What sins of Israel did Stephen point out?

One of Stephen’s condemning points was, "God does not live in houses made with hands." How does his recital of the Patriarchs, Joseph, Moses and David support that statement?

What warning also does this bring to today’s Church?

Stephen’s second condemnation was that they (the Jewish leaders) resist the Spirit (rejecting God’s Word sent through the prophets). In today’s Church what might also possibly "stifle the Spirit"?

Jesus had also spoken against their spiritual stubbornness and their use of the Temple, but in putting Jesus to death what were the Jewish leaders more careful to do?

How did they fulfill Deuteronomy 13:6?

Stephen’s ultimate hope and vision is unique, yet what does every Christian have at his/her hour of death?

There is a saying: The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. What does this mean and why is this so?