Good evening to all of you. It's a great time to be in horse presence and the people here.
And.
I'm a little bit sad too because I have got a biggest chapter in this book. So it's exciting to read this chapter a lot of new things.
That I also got to learn while reading this chapter. Each worse agreed. Marty like Stephen BC in this book And in this especially in this chapter And.
It was overwhelming. It was exciting. The Lord taught me a lot of things while I was reading this chapter.
So let us get started. With this great joy of of ride. And. Let us start with chapter 7 of X.
So Last week, Brother Joseph, we, started with chapter 6 and And there, a very opposite biggest chapter and the smallest chapter.
And we are dealing between these 2 chapters. So let me put put a reverse gear back and come back to chapter 6 because chapter 6 and 7 are linked together.
Because we have to go to the chapter 6 before that will need to understand what happened really before and let us.
Go back and see what. Stephen was and how and what was his characteristics. So basically chapter 7 is the.
Stephen's speech or it hits the address or the Stevens apologetics. That is defined in chapter 7.
And when we talk about chapter 7 Apologetics is it's defined as the religious discipline of defending.
Religious doctrines. Through religious discipline. Through religious systematic argumentation and discourse. It's a great optimization.
Is it not? It's not the apology, but it is the apologetics where we are defending the faith that we have or that we have.
On something and that is called Apolloitics. And this is given by whom this is given by Stephen the one who was chosen.
Within the 7 men in chapter 6. Stephen Philip and rest of the other 5 people. So in chapter 6 we see that the great characteristics of Stephen.
In verse 5 we see that Stephen was full of faith. He was full of Holy Spirit. He was of a good reputation because when we see that.
When they were seeking the 7 brethren among the 7 brethren, what quality should the person has should have?
And one of them was code of reputation. So we see that he was of a good reputation as well.
When we come down inverse state We see that he was full of wisdom. He was of great wonders.
And he did signs among the people. Lot of different characteristics we see in Stephen. A man full of faith.
For a for is Holy Spirit of good reputation. Of system. Full of grace. Full of power.
Did create wonders and science. A complete 7 set which tells us it's a complete number 8 7 You had all those 7 characteristics.
In him and that's we see how amazing this guy is Stephen
That's beautiful. And he was one of the one who was chosen to serve. As a deacon.
He was not more than a postal, but he was not even less than a postal, but he was the one where all the knowledge, all the wisdom, all the grace, all the great powers he was also being given the power of.
Killing as well. And On this guy, Stephen, we see in the worst 1910, and 11, we see that people are.
Accusing him of wrong things which was not actually done by him. When we see that the synagogue of the freedmen when they came and they inverse and it's written that and they are not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke.
He was speaking to the people. He was speaking. Through the word of court, he was doing miraculous.
He was He because he was filled with full of faith, he was full of power and in that way he was speaking.
But what we see in worst in is that they were not able to resist it.
What they were not, what they were not able to resist. They were not able to resist the wisdom.
And the spirit by which he spoke.
And what they did after that. They were resist they were resist they were not able to resist it but in verse 11 what they did is they secretly induced men to say we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God
Secretly induced. It was not it was not like It was like a pre-planned thing they might have done.
Like this person this guy Stephen he's speaking full of faith he's speaking full of wisdom that will be a dangerous thing for us but what we see that to avoid that thing to He they secretly induced someone to speak against Stephen.
And what they said that this guy is speaking words against Moses and God.
We see the same thing happened in. First Kings chapter 21. Right? King Nabot.
The Jezreelite killed. Him because the King Kahap and his wife. They will turn to that chapter first kings chapter 21.
Book off first kings and chapter 21 we see the similar scenario. What happened to Stephen was happened long back.
In the word testimony. Will read course. 1 2 and 13 and it came to pass after these things that Nobu, the Juju light had a vineyard which was in Jezreel next to the Palace of Ahab King of Samaria.
So, I have spoke to an about saying, give me your wine ear that I may have it for a vegetable garden because it is near next to my house and for it will give you many art better than it or if it's seems cool to you I will give you it's worth in money.
Anywhere starting? And 2 men's controls. Scumbrails came in and sat before him and the scoundrels witnessed against him against no both in the presence of the people saying Naboth has blasphemed God and the King.
Then took him outside the city and stoned him with the stones so that he died.
See, we see the same scenario, same story happening with in a booth and he was accused of blaspheming against card.
And against the king and he was killed in the same way. How Stephen was killed. Coming back to chapter 6.
This was done by 2 men. For and both here we see that secretly some MENTS were induced in the synagogue when he was speaking.
And it was all secretly done. Stephen was, Stephen might not be aware about these things that some people will come.
In front of him around him and we'll start accusing. But it was God's plan to show the greatness of himself.
Through chapter 7 by Stevens speech. And then what they are accusing him of blaspheming against Moses.
Blaspheming against God.
And all false witnesses against him. So in total there were for accusation done by the people over there on Stephen.
They blasphemed that he speaks against card. Second, he speaks against Moses. Third, he speaks against the law.
And for he speaks against the temple.
When we talk about the word blasphemy. It's a Greek word, which means blasphemia.
Which means slander or detraction or speech which is injurious to the another spoot name.
And we see that same thing happening for Stephen.
And we see that He was going to be persecuted now. We see the same thing happening with Peter.
And Peter and John in the previous chapter. 5 and 4 and 5. They were accused, they were jailed.
And they were released back again and we see another Christian has been persecuted. By accusing of wrong wrong and false allegations.
Now in worse in chapter 7, let us start with chapter 7. We know that he is accused. And he's blasphemed against Card is he's speaking against about what they are saying.
He's speaking against Moses. He's speaking against law. He's speaking or is temple.
Now, now Stephen had a great plan. Or any started his speech.
Steve was full of wisdom. He was full of faith. He was speaking with that great Holy Spirit, full of power, he was speaking with the people.
And in that same continuation his Going in chapter 7. And whatever he's been. Blasphemy is ready to answer them.
He was full of spirit. He didn't He didn't had that fear. He didn't have that.
The like timidness he was full of faith full of courage to answer them. And that's how we start inverse.
And it is not only for Stephen but for us as well because In first pity chapter 3 verse 15 we see that we have to be ready to give defense.
We have to be ready to give defense to everyone who asks us. Reason for the hope that is. In us with weakness and fear.
We will read that verse in First breeder chapter 3 and where's 15 every encouraging and beautiful words that a Christian, a believer should have.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready. To give defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
And we see that same gradient, same readiness was with Stephen. We see that the same. Encouragement of defense was Ready with Stephen.
And he is ready to give defense now. And it's not only
It's not only to be given when someone is accusing us it is not only should be spoken when someone is blaming on us but it should we should be every time ready to give defense and not only defense but to to talk to the people who are teaching false teachings or who is coming from the false teachers.
So it is our it is our duty it is our It is our encouragement that we should be ready every time ready.
To give defense to talk about the faith that we have. And that is the fate that we have on our guard.
And you have to be ready to answer the people. It is not only that people will come and stone us, it is not the scenario right now that when people will stone us then only we have to be ready with the we have to be ready with the answers right It can come any time in in front of us it can come anyone can any passerby can come and ask us about our faith who is Jesus what he is doing in your life what
is your faith And that is the reason we have to be ready. And. With all the answers doctrinally sound and that's not only for the elders for the dec of the church but everyone who who believes on God everyone who has that faith who has received him as their Savior.
And that's the reason Paul is saying that be ready to give defense. To everyone. Not only for few people.
Know only for false teachers but everyone who comes. Everyone who asks you and who ask you about your faith and that's what it's written in this worse.
And it's the same thing written in Titus chapter one person and I would like to read that words to Titus.
Chapter one. And 9.
Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught. That he may be able by Sound doctrine both to exert and convict those who contract.
The people started blaspheming against Stephen. The people started saying wrong things which he was not Yogi off.
And so whenever we are facing this issue or this scenario in our life. We have to be sound doctrine and we have to refute the error that has been talked about.
Right and that's the same thing we see in Stephen's life. Worst one, now we are starting with chapter 7 actually So then the high priest said are these things so Wow, great.
Wow, what a great high pristies. He's giving a time, he's giving a chance to speak.
To Stephen. Probably he's the same high prist that we see in the previous chapter, TIFAS.
And yeah, we see the same. High pressed here as well in the same synagogue. And what is asking Stephen that How did this think so?
Some people are coming inducing in the synagogue and they are starting that we have heard him blaspheming against The Moses and card so now he's giving chance to Stephen that his hardest thing so and Stephen is full of spirit.
Stephen is full of power and wisdom. And he starts now. To ask answer them. Inverse to.
Now, now they were accusing Stephen of all these things. Now, he wanted to capture their attend in such a way.
That he might He wanted his their attention because now he will speak people might not listen to him because they have already accused him that their your blaspheming against God, Moses, Law and Temple.
But now he wanted to bring their attention. He wanted to make sure that everyone is listening to him. And that's the reason he Started with the severiest accusation that was done on him that he is blaspheming against court.
So what he did. This all used people they were from like they were believing about Abraham They were believing about the father.
Abraham isac checkup all the forefathers right And now he wanted to capture the attendant Starting by speaking of them right now And what you say is inverse 2.
And he said, Brethren and fathers, listen. First stop, he wanted their attention. The period right brother and fathers he's calling them brethren he's calling them fathers Listen and what he's saying there the god of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Heron.
A beautiful exaltation, exhortation given by Stephen. Talking about car. They are accusing first.
We are seeing that he will be unfolding all his accusation one by one he will be answering one by one to all the acquisition.
Starting with the blasphemeans of the blasphemy of Pakistan. And that's how we started answering.
He's saying that God of glory. This is just mentioned once. In the entire old estimate. God of glory.
We haven't seen this. This exaltation exhortation anywhere in the Bible, God of glory.
We see that only in Psalms chapter 29 we will read that word sums. Chapter 29.
And worse 3. The voice of the Lord is over the waters the god of glory thunders the Lord is over many importers This is the sum of David.
The people of Israelites the Jews they believed on David and he's starting with the sum of David in chapters 29 of Psalms that the god of Glory Thunders and he's using the same word.
To guard the court of glory. And it's interesting in the ending of the world in the ending of the chapter is ending with glory of card.
In verse 54. It's starting with God of glory. And it's ending with glory of court right in chapter 54 it's been said when you see the god of glory you will have the glory of God in your life Many follow the have that great faith on the God of Glory you will have that glory of chord when you pass in your life and you are in the phases different phases and different
phases of your life. And that's how he's starting. God of Glory appeared.
Now, a very interesting fact. What is saying there? To our father. He's saying that I am one of you and you are telling that I am blaspheming against chord.
What are you saying there? Appear to our father. Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Harar.
Now this our father is repeated almost 10 times in this whole chapter. And he's making sure that I am one of you.
Why would I blasphem against card against Moses against the law and against the temple. Why I would do that?
And that's reason. In every line, in every passage when he was defending his accusation, He mentioned he reiterated every time that our fathers, our fathers, our fathers.
Making sure that I am one of your generation. And starting with the great history of Abraham.
It's written in verse 3.
And said to him get out of your country and and from your relatives and come to a land. That I will show you.
God is mentioned like 19 times in this chapter whole chapter making sure that he's believing the same God who created him.
He is building the same god of Abraham, part of Isaac, God of Jacob. And he's starting now with history that Abraham was asked to come out of that country.
And from your relatives and come to a land that I will show you. Now there has been different harmonization done between Stephen's speech and the Old Testament.
Because it was important. And some people, is that whatever he spoke was incorrect was sometimes but he was full of wisdom he had that old testimony in his hand when he was speaking.
He had that knowledge because it's written that he was full of wisdom and power. And he had that Old Testament he had all the knowledge in and out of the Old Testament.
The disciples in mentioned it lot a lot in their Gospels, but now this man he starts It starts with the Old Testament referencing the verses which is in his mind in and out full of faith.
And is answering and is starting with Abraham. In verse 3, He said that God appeared to Abraham.
Now, and there is some information that I that I also had when he was Speaking about this.
In worse, 2 to 4, he's, Stephen is telling that Abraham. Was revealed card ripple to a Brahm in old.
And it's written in Genesis chapter 12. Verse one to 3 that he was revealed to Abraham in her her.
Now this is a contradiction, right? But it's been said that God indeed spoke to Abraham twice.
He was, when he was in her and he was a poor. And that is a complementary or conflict that is trying to, so speak in his speech when he's talking to the people who is accusing them.
And that's the reason we see that similarity that's reason we see the same courts coming from the Old Testament in a speech.
Worse for then you came out of the land of the Chaldeans and welcomed dwelt in Heran And from there, when his father's was, father was dead, he moved him to this land in which he would now dwell.
Another interesting thing here we see It's been said that. In verse 4, Abraham leaves Heron after death of his father.
But it's written in Genesis. She was he left her on 60 years before his father's death.
Now if you love mathematics then we can study that too. If when we come to Genesis chapter 11, it's interesting thing to note and to study.
Genesis chapter 11 and verse 26.
Now, Taylor lived 70 years and we caught Abraham, Nahor and Heran. Right?
She was 75 years, so when he, she, he be caught Ebrahim Naho and Heron.
Now in verse 32 Terra were 205 and Terra died in Hera.
She he was 205 years old when he died and in verse 4. Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him and Lord Lord went with him and Abraham was 75 years when he departed from Heron, right?
So it's interesting that Abram was 75 years old when he left her run. And It's written in verse 26 that Tira be caught Ebrahim, Naho and Hare and went.
He was 75 years old. 75 plus this. 75 years 70 plus 75 it's like around 1 65 right But the what?
Steve one mentioned in this speech that Heron left after death of his father. Now the sequence that is given in verse 26 of chapter 11, Abraham, Nahor, and Heran.
That's actually. It's mean it's not the actual sequence of their age that when they were born, but it's actually mostly it's been said that it's the the time when this had started the faith on the card.
So, Abraham might be. But the older or the younger one, they're not or her.
It's the same thing of shame, Ham and Jopheth. Right? It's it's mentioned in the Bible Shame, Ham and Jaffe, but Jaffe was the eldest.
Then came shame and then came ham, right? And it's the same way, Abraham, Nahu, and her and it's not supposed to be that, and Abraham was the whole desk, right?
So that's it, and see if and says that he was. He died after a theater died and then he left her on.
So that's what it's the harmonization between 2. Old Testament and the New Testament when Stephen is giving the speech.
He might he might have left her on when Tara died at the age of 205 And that's what we see here.
He's talking about them, is talking about the forefathers with the people in front of them believe.
And strongly believe. And they are so strongly believed that they are becoming angry as soon as they heard a wrong accusation against TFAN that is black swimming against card.
And he wants to talk more about card to them. Making sure that He is believing the same God and he wants to attract their attention.
So when we pass through all these passages, we see that trend in Stephen's piece that he's trying to attract or wanted to folk.
Take the focus from this passages to Jesus in every passage which we read here, is trying to relate that.
With Jesus and his work which they did and how they persecuted Jesus as well how they neglected or rejected Jesus.
And he's trying to correlate that between the life which what is speaking and what the people did in front of it.
This is interesting, right? Between the speech of Stephen and what it's written in or testament worse 5 Languard gave him no inheritance, not even enough to set his food, but even when Abraham had no child.
He promised to give it to him for possession and to his descendants after him. Abram was a How hard a great faith he was justified by his faith has said in Romans and he's the father of faith right and he did it so God brought him out of the land.
And he had not enough to set his food right inverse 5 but still He had that faith, he had that great faith on God that He will be fulfilling his promises which he had for him when he left her.
When he left board. And because of that promises because of that faith Even he was now God also told him that I will grow your fame family.
I grow your nation, but he didn't have child there. Such a great. We would have if that would have been in our life that that situation would have been our in our life that someone is asking to leave left leave one country and go to another country.
To on some promises that he promised. To us and he's not fulfilling this that for 3 years, 4 years, 5 years.
But still he's having that faith. See the fate of Abraham, right? And that promises which he had on them.
With the same faith, is fulfilling the promises and he is continuing to believe. Continue to having faith on court which he had.
He promised to give it to him for possession and to his descendants after him. But Court spoke in this way that his descendants would wealth in a 4 foreign land and that they would bring them into bondage and operas them 400 years in Egypt.
We know that's this happened in Egypt right that they will dwell in the foreign land. For 400 years.
Now this is also mentioned in the Old Testament around exactly to be precise for 30 years but since Stephen is giving a speech he's trying to conflict or making sure that his crown figuring it or abuating it whatever is speaking because he can't speak.
The whole history has to be. Precise what he's speaking he has to be strong and firm what he's speaking and make sure that the people in front of him understand what he's speaking, right?
And that's the reason. He's saying that it's it's it they will be in the foreign inland for 400 years or 7 and the nations to whom they will be born is I will judge said car.
Shall come out and serve me in this place. Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision and so Abraham we caught Isaac and Circus circumsized him on the eighth day and I said we got Jacob and Jacob you got 12 tracks.
He has completed his task. He wanted to bring their attention. To hook them in the conversation such that He can nullify all the blasphemy which is against Him, which is against card.
Right now he he completed his He's his words or whatever he spoke. In this passage that You are the one who blasphemed against Cor.
You are the one who are blaspheming. Me that I'm blasphemy against chord but this is the same god that I'm believing this is the same God that And the same forefathers that I come from.
We they are our fathers. Now you want to turn this table. He wants to turn the table around them then and saying that you are the one rejected Joseph, right?
You are the one who sold Joseph. And now he's starting with the life of Joseph in worst night.
And the petriads becoming NYS sold. Joseph in Egypt but card was with him
We know that Stephen is trying to make sure that he's, he's having that correlation between what he's speaking and that is leading to Jesus.
In a speech and it's a seem thing we see in speech that He's saying that they sold Joseph in Egypt, but Card was with him.
Wherever people wherever the stiffen is wherever he is wherever Abraham is wherever Joseph is wherever Isaac or Jacob is God is with them every time.
He is not leaving them. He is not living them alone but he is always with them, with his people.
With this appointed one with this one. And that's what he's speaking here. First then and delivered him out of all his troubles and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh.
King of Egypt and he made him governor over over Egypt and all his house. Now, a Feminine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Ken and our fathers formed no sustenance.
But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers. First and the second time Joseph was met known to his brothers and Joseph family became known to the Pharaoh Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, 75 people.
So Jacob went down to Egypt and he died. He and our fathers. And they were carried back to shake him and lit in the tone that Abraham bought for a sum of money from Sons of Hammer.
The father of Shikim. Keynotes. Again, we see in verse 11, he's seeing our fathers.
First 12 are fathers. Words 15 are fathers Hugging is making sure that I am one of you.
I can, again, is making sure that I am one of you. They are also my fathers.
And now we see that Joseph was we see a lot of similarities. I heard from one person they had been given a task finding similarities between Joseph and Jesus.
And they found like more than 100 similarities between them. Such a great thing and he's trying to bring that create again the same similarities trying to make sure that he's Guiding them to Jesus what they did Now in that in that same place and how is doing that referring to the old testament which which he had the knowledge of.
There respected Joseph, they sold him, we see the same, our Jesus was sold. They rejected him.
We see that their brothers of Joseph, who rejected them. And he wants to turn the table to the site in the synagogue that you are the one who are blaspheming against the one who quite got a pointer.
You are the one who who rejected the one who got sent. You are the one. He's now this speech is a defensive speech.
Okay, it's more than a defensive speech. It's a offensive sermon or a great All powerful sermon our speech is trying to give in these words.
Yeah, he's making sure that this is a defense But he's also making sure that they should understand who they were and where they came from and how There rejected the one who was appointed by court.
And that's the reason. Worth studying also it's said that the second time Joseph was made known to his fathers.
It will be a great encouragement for us when our Lord Jesus Christ will be coming second time. People will understand that yes, he said the truth.
He had been given us the hope that he'll going to come back again. And the second time we see in the same format which is mentioned in Zakaria chapter 12 verse 10 to 14.
Interesting thing in verse 1475 people were Send like then Joseph sent and called his checkup and all his relatives to him 75 people came from the different country to him.
In Old Testament, it's been said like. 70 people came actually. Right when we read in Genesis chapter 45 verse 9 70 people but Stephen in his speech is adding 75 because There were 2 people from 2 cents of Manasse 2 sons of Ephraim.
And ransom of a friend in his addition and that's the reason he added the speech. And he's saying that 75 people came to the land.
And then they went down to Egypt Jacob went down to Egypt and he died. He and our fathers.
And they were carried back to shake him and laid in the tomb. That Abraham bought for some of money from the sense of Hammer, the father of Shakir.
Now this is also different allegations or different words that we see in Old Testament. It's been said that Abraham bought that.
To in Joshua book it said that Check about the tomb. Now again, there is some contradiction happening, but it was it's it's been said that in this contradiction that It was it's it said that some people when a bram bought an Abraham was out of his home country some people bought that tomb again and Jacob had to re buy that tomb again.
So that's the reason it's mentioned in 2 or it's been said that they had been purchased in 2 different locations.
So these are the things which are written in the Old Testament as well and he's trying to.
Convey that 3 speech. And it's continuing his blasphemy against Steve one who is been accused of blaspheming against card He slowly, slowly, slowly, his Trying to make sure that I'm not the one I'm one of you I'm they are the same one our fathers And that's a great space that we see.
In Stephen speech. I wanted to complete the Moses as well, but I'll stop now. It's time.
Time up for us but I will continue and see what rest of the chapters. Wanted to. Talk and how it unfolds the truth and greatness and through this Stevens speech.
Let us breathe.
Okay, thank you for this wonderful time all Lord. Thank you for bringing us together in your presence. Thank you for your great love and your great mercy that you have shown.
On us to by your only Vicottents and our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for bringing us.
The truth from Acts chapter 7, we see this great Marty or Stephen Who is defending himself, through speech on art.
And help us that we may also be ready with the defense or the apologetics that we should be ready with.
So that we can talk about you talk about our faith, talk about what we believe to others or not.
It's not only when we are being accused or it's not only when we are being when we'll be into that death scenario but you every time you help us to be ready to answer or thank you for this great word that you have given us from the book of Acts chapter 7.
In the next week help us to complete this chapter and help us to understand what you have kept for us.
Thank you for bringing all of us here together, Lord, asking this prayer in the most precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I mean.
Please pray for me as well. I'll be going to the Milwaukee Metro crew retreat this weekend.
It's it's a 3 day program. Friday Saturday Sunday in the Phantom Bible rent screening camp.
So the help, that that event and the program be blessing, be a blessing and fruitful for me.
Please pray for that. Thank you.