The Acts of the Apostles
Acts Chapter 6 and 7
Vs.1-4
More and more people have become believers.
Some of the believers not Jewish from Greece felt that their widows were not getting the attention and things they needed. They felt that the Jewish widows were being taken care of better than they.
The disciples came together to talk about it. They said that they the disciples should be using their time for preaching and teaching and prayer and not be worrying about everyday things of food, clothing, etc. and who gets it.
So they decided to choose 7 men to take care of those things.
Vs. 5-8 7 men were chosen. One of the men was Stephen. He was full of faith and power and he did miracles among the people.
Vs. 9-15 When Stephen spoke his words were very powerful. People felt the power in his words and believed in Jesus.
Some of the Jewish people were upset and angry. They told lies about him and had Stephen brought before the leaders.
As the men told lies about Stephen Stephen’s face begin to shine like an angel’s.
Chapter 7
Vs. 1 -50 This is a long sermon. Stephen tells it to the leaders. He tells the history of the Hebrew people.
Vs. 51-52 Stephen tells them that they are stubborn of heart. He tells them that they are like the men in the Old Testament who killed the prophets/preachers who told them of things to come.
The leaders did not like these words. They became very angry.
Vs. 53 Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit as he stood he looked up into heaven and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God the Father. So he told the people what he was seeing.
Vs. 57 When they heard him say that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God the Father they began to hit him and they pulled him out into the street and out of the city. Then they began to throw stones at him until he died.
(If Stephen saw Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand then Jesus who died on the cross must now be in heaven with God. Jesus always said he was God’s Son and that he came from heaven. The leaders do not want to believe this. They do not want to hear Stephen say that he was seeing this same Jesus in heaven..)
Just before he died Stephen was on his knees and he said God forgive them. And he asked Jesus to receive his spirit. Then he died.
Vs.58 The people who were throwing stones took off their coats/robes outer robes and lay them down on the ground beside a young man by the name of Saul.
Saul (we learn about him later) was a young Jewish man. Was very educated. Had studied with a famous teacher. He was against the Christian believers. He thought they were wrong to believe in Jesus. He went around putting them in prison, making trouble for them, having them be beaten, etc. Saul saw this believing in Jesus as a wrong teaching. Something that needed to be stopped.