The Point Of Stephen's Speech?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Hidden In Him

Well-Known Member
May 10, 2018
10,600
10,883
113
59
Lafayette, LA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Greetings all. I wanted to see what our theologians have to say on this question. I actually have my own interpretation which I can share later, but I wanted to see what sort of responses I got to the following question:

What was the driving point of Stephen's speech in Acts, Chapter 7? If you can, I'd like a succinct reply in one or at the most two sentences.

Thanks in advance to any who reply
Blessings in Christ,
Hidden in Him

1 Then said the high priest, "Are these things so?" 2 And he said, "Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee'. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. 7 'And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge,' said God: 'and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.' 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. 14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 19 The same dealt subtily with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. 20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: 21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 26 And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, 'Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?' 27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, 'Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?' 29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, 32 Saying, 'I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 33 Then said the Lord to him, 'Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.' 35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, 'Who made thee a ruler and a judge?' the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, 'A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.' 38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: 39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 40 Saying unto Aaron, 'Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.' 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.'

44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. 45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; 46 Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him an house.

48 Howbeit the most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 'Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things?' 51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."
 

quietthinker

Well-Known Member
May 4, 2018
11,544
7,584
113
FNQ
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Greetings all. I wanted to see what our theologians have to say on this question. I actually have my own interpretation which I can share later, but I wanted to see what sort of responses I got to the following question:

What was the driving point of Stephen's speech in Acts, Chapter 7? If you can, I'd like a succinct reply in one or at the most two sentences.

Thanks in advance to any who reply
Blessings in Christ,
Hidden in Him

1 Then said the high priest, "Are these things so?" 2 And he said, "Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee'. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. 7 'And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge,' said God: 'and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.' 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. 14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 19 The same dealt subtily with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. 20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: 21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 26 And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, 'Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?' 27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, 'Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?' 29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, 32 Saying, 'I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 33 Then said the Lord to him, 'Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.' 35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, 'Who made thee a ruler and a judge?' the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, 'A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.' 38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: 39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 40 Saying unto Aaron, 'Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.' 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.'

44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. 45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; 46 Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him an house.

48 Howbeit the most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 'Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things?' 51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."
The point was to present Jesus as the fulfilment of the prophesied Messiah and also to counter the charge that he was speaking against the law in the broader sense of the word.
His reminder that they were walking in the rebellious footsteps of their forbears unwittingly fulfilling the prophecies made their charge null and void.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bbyrd009

larry2

Active Member
Jun 14, 2018
201
215
43
Arapahoe
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
What was the driving point of Stephen's speech in Acts, Chapter 7?
Previously in John 1:51 And He (Jesus) saith unto him (Nathanael), Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Act 7:56 And (Stephen) said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God, and this confirming the completion of Daniel’s seventy weeks.
 

Enoch111

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2018
17,688
15,996
113
Alberta
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
What was the driving point of Stephen's speech in Acts, Chapter 7?
This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet [CHRIST] shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear (v 37) ...Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; [CHRIST] of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers (v 52).
 

Episkopos

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2011
12,795
19,242
113
65
Montreal
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
No other takers? Maybe @Dave L , @CoreIssue , @Keraz ?

@Episkopos and @Frank Lee : I'm thinking you two would probably be able to come up with what I believe is the right answer, given your views on certain issues. Wanna take a stab at it?


Stephen spoke by the Spirit to convict the elders of the Jews to repent from their rebelliousness. But they rather stiffened their necks...just as Stephen prophesied that they would.
 

Frank Lee

Well-Known Member
Feb 23, 2017
1,459
2,837
113
79
Ouachita Mountains
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Short and hopefully... Sweet! The amazing thing about Stephen's speech is;

1. His in depth knowledge of the entire history of Israel and the Jews. Access to the old testament books must've been wide spread and Stephen didn't learn all he recounted from listening to lectures by a Rabbi.

2. When not recounting history in this chapter the Holy Spirit speaking through him, rebuked the listeners. In vs. 49 - 53 God is speaking directly through him.

As believers the connection for us is ;

Luke 21:14-16 KJVS
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
[15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

In the two verses above we see them fulfilled in Stephen and sadly in verse 16 below we see it fulfilled also.

[16] And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
 
  • Like
Reactions: amadeus and Dave L

CoreIssue

Well-Known Member
Oct 15, 2018
10,032
2,023
113
USA
christiantalkzone.net
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Previously in John 1:51 And He (Jesus) saith unto him (Nathanael), Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Act 7:56 And (Stephen) said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God, and this confirming the completion of Daniel’s seventy weeks.
Nope that. Nothing to do with the 70th week.
 

larry2

Active Member
Jun 14, 2018
201
215
43
Arapahoe
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Nope that. Nothing to do with the 70th week.
Dear Brother CoreIssue, which of the following seven blessing are waiting to be accomplished?

Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Much of the Church believes in a gap during the Seventy Weeks, and there will be another week of Daniel, but as my friend Gene Hawkins preached on this:

“I’ll guarantee you that the week of tribulation is not a week of blessing.”

Thanks for your reply in Jesus' name. :)
 

CoreIssue

Well-Known Member
Oct 15, 2018
10,032
2,023
113
USA
christiantalkzone.net
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Dear Brother CoreIssue, which of the following seven blessing are waiting to be accomplished?

Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

On Israel and future. The tribulation period.

Much of the Church believes in a gap during the Seventy Weeks,

69 weeks have been completed, and ending with the death of Christ.

and there will be another week of Daniel,

The 70th week is future, starting with the rapture, revealing of the AC and the return of the two witnesses.
S
but as my friend Gene Hawkins preached on this:
“I’ll guarantee you that the week of tribulation is not a week of blessing.”

None of the 70 weeks are ever called a blessing.


Thanks for your reply in Jesus' name.
tiphat.gif :)
 

Enoch111

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2018
17,688
15,996
113
Alberta
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
“I’ll guarantee you that the week of tribulation is not a week of blessing.”
Of course it is not. But after the 70th week of Daniel is completed, Christ returns to earth with His saints and angels, and it is only AFTER that that He brings in "everlasting righteousness".
 
B

brakelite

Guest
Stephens speech is a prophetic indictment against the nation, akin to a prosecuting lawyer's final summation to the jury.
The response, the blocking of the ears and the gnashing of teeth by the nations leaders, sealed the fate of the nation.
A marked difference between Stephen and other prophets was that Stephen offered no room nor opportunity for repentance. Israel's fate was sealed. Their time as God's chosen people was over. Their probation, the 490 years, was closed.
 

CoreIssue

Well-Known Member
Oct 15, 2018
10,032
2,023
113
USA
christiantalkzone.net
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Stephens speech is a prophetic indictment against the nation, akin to a prosecuting lawyer's final summation to the jury.
The response, the blocking of the ears and the gnashing of teeth by the nations leaders, sealed the fate of the nation.
A marked difference between Stephen and other prophets was that Stephen offered no room nor opportunity for repentance. Israel's fate was sealed. Their time as God's chosen people was over. Their probation, the 490 years, was closed.
It does not say the time of israel was over. Not even hinted at.
 
D

Dave L

Guest
I see the major point being given in Acts 7:55, 56.
I believe you are right. Things changed with Stephen's death. And it became apparent that the line had been drawn between those who clung to the old testament sacrifices (now the abomination of desolation since Jesus' death for sin) and the New Covenant under Christ. Jesus said when you see the abomination "standing" in the holy place, that is remaining fixed in the holy place, then doom is immanent. When they saw the armies Luke spoke of, the believers all left the region as the greatest tribulation ever took place.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

CoreIssue

Well-Known Member
Oct 15, 2018
10,032
2,023
113
USA
christiantalkzone.net
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I believe you are right. Things changed with Stephen's death. And it became apparent that the line had been drawn between those who clung to the old testament sacrifices (now the abomination of desolation since Jesus' death for sin) and the New Covenant under Christ. Jesus said when you see the abomination "standing" in the holy place, that is remaining fixed in the holy place, then doom is immanent. When they saw the armies John spoke of, the believers all left the region as the greatest tribulation ever took place.

How do you define AOD. That the bible always defines it as that which the defiled the holy of holies in the temple, past and future.

It always required cleansing that temple after happening. In the MK the temple will be cleaned and rededicated before put to use.
 

larry2

Active Member
Jun 14, 2018
201
215
43
Arapahoe
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
After the 70th week of Daniel is completed, Christ returns to earth with His saints and angels, and it is only AFTER that that He brings in "everlasting righteousness".
Hi Brother Enoch, by your response I’m supposing you to be saying Everlasting Righteousness will not be established until there is no sin, and to me that would put the 70th week of Daniel at the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ.

Most of the Church believes the 70th week of Daniel to occur the 7 years of tribulation, and that even prior to all Israel being saved: I don’t. I believe it was satisfied subsequent to Christ dying and being resurrected, and applied to all who believe.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, (Notice that this sin is still prevalent upon the earth after 1000 years.)

Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Thanks for your discourse in Christ. :)
 
D

Dave L

Guest
How do you define AOD. That the bible always defines it as that which the defiled the holy of holies in the temple, past and future.

It always required cleansing that temple after happening. In the MK the temple will be cleaned and rededicated before put to use.
Antiochus Epiphanies provided the proto type AoD in 167 BC. It is the symbol Jesus said to watch out for. Animal sacrifice became the new abomination that made desolate after Jesus abolished it with the sacrifice of himself. When it stood (remained an institution) it spelled the desolation by armies surrounding Jerusalem that believers took as their sign to leave the area.
 

CoreIssue

Well-Known Member
Oct 15, 2018
10,032
2,023
113
USA
christiantalkzone.net
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Antiochus Epiphanies provided the proto type AoD in 167 BC. It is the symbol Jesus said to watch out for. Animal sacrifice became the new abomination that made desolate after Jesus abolished it with the sacrifice of himself. When it stood (remained an institution) it spelled the desolation by armies surrounding Jerusalem that believers took as their sign to leave the area.

So back to quoting you're so called ancient experts.

Just stick with the bible. Every use talks about a defilement of the holy of holies and temple.

You are redefining the meaning.