## Study of the Book of Acts - Part 8

Tonight we continue our study of the book of Acts. Remember we are using the Scriptural outline for the book found in 1:8.

(Acts 1:8b) "…Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Tonight we continue studying the development of Christianity in Jerusalem.

I. Christianity in Jerusalem 1:1-8:3

A. The risen Lord 1:1-26

B. Pentecost 2:1-47

C. The Healing of a Lame Man 3:1-26

D. The beginning of persecution 4:1-37

E. Purging the Church 5:1-42

F. Conflict within the Church 6:1-7

G. Stephen - The First Martyr 6:8 - 8:3

1. The Stirring of the People 6:8-15

2. His Message 7:1-

a. The high priest allows Stephen to offer a defense against the charges that have been made v 1

1) However, Stephen does not give a personal defense but he begins to relate how God has worked in Israel's history

2) This he does to defend Christianity as a whole

b. There are three main thoughts or points in his message:

1) There is progress and change in God's program

a) Promise to Abraham v 2-8

b) Sojourn of Joseph v 9-16

c) Deliverance under Moses v 17-43

d) Building of the tabernacle v44-46

e) Construction of the Temple v47-50

2) The blessings of God are not limited to the land of Israel and the temple area

a) Israel's patriarchs and leaders were blessed outside the land

1] Abraham was called in Mesopotamia and given promises before he lived in Haran v 2-5

2] In Egypt, Joseph found favor with Pharoah because God was with him v 9-10

3] Moses was commissioned by God in Midian v 29-34

b) The law, itself, was given outside the land: Moses and the assembly of Israel were in the desert v 38

c) The tabernacle was built by them in the desert v 44

d) The temple was built within the land, but God can't be limited or confined to a physical location v48-49

3) Israel in its past always evidenced a pattern of opposition to God's plans and God's men.

a) Stephen declares this in v 51-52 "ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."

b) His three main points together point to the real problem that Israel had in accepting that God was working through the Apostles and the church.

c) Each point was proven by History, God has changed how He dealt with man - His blessings have not been limited geographically to the land of Israel - and Israel had shown a pattern of opposition to God's plans and God's men.

3. Stephen's death by stoning 7:54-8:3

a. When they heard that final statement by Stephen - that they had not kept the law - it was more than they could stand. v 54

1) They were cut to the heart - strong conviction will either bring repentance or rejection

2) In this case it brought strong rejection of the message and the messenger

3) They gnashed on him with their teeth - grinding their teeth in anger

b. Stephen seemed to be unaffected by their show of anger toward him. v 55-56

1) He looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God

2) Normally in Scripture we find Jesus seated at the right hand of God - the standing position may imply that the Lord was ready to welcome Stephen home.

3) Stephen told the crowd what he was seeing

c. The crowd took Stephen and stoned him v 57-60

1) They couldn't stand to hear anymore from him - they stopped their ears and cried out with a loud voice

2) While the crowd was stoning Stephen, a man by the name of Saul stood by in approval of what was happening.

3) This is the first reference to the man who with great zeal led the attack against Christianity.

4) Stephen intercedes on behalf of the crowd with his dying breath.

d. Saul continues his crusade against Christianity 8:1-3

1) The persecution was so great that all but the Apostles were scattered abroad.

2) Saul made havoc of the church committing men and women to prison - this he did entering into every house.

3) His search for Christians was relentless - note the contrast: Godly men buried and lamented Stephen and ungodly men began to destroy the church.

Next time:

Christianity in Judea and Samaria