Week 37 Acts 7
Almost 90% of chapter 7 is Stephen’s public speech. I’ve tended to think of it as his life-on-the-line self-defense speech. And my bible agrees – it adds the title “Stephen’s Defense”.
But there’s not a lot of self defense there. Mostly it’s a recap of Israel’s history. And Stephen ends up telling the court: you stiff-necked people!…You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One…and now you have murdered him.
It’s pretty inflammatory. No detectable diplomacy.
I decided to take Stephen’s concluding idea about resistance and reread the speech with that in mind. Resistance & rejection did show up occasionally (but subtly):
• because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt
• Moses was challenged: who made you ruler and judge over us?
• later Moses was rejected – even though he was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself
• finally: our ancestors refused to obey Moses. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
Stephen likely knew from the start which way the judicial winds were blowing. So instead of defending himself he gave a selective history of Israel that pointed out Israel’s resistance & rejection (and finally) persecution & murder of people the Lord sent. Looks like in his last speech Stephen decided to accuse the guilty rather than defend himself.
Note: quotes from Acts 7:51-52 7:9 27 35 & 39 (NIV)