A Witness to the End

To the high priest's question, Stephen answered with a long retelling of Israel's history. The God of glory appeared to Abraham, promised the land to his offspring, and gave the covenant of circumcision. The patriarchs, moved with jealousy, sold Joseph into Egypt, yet God was with him and rescued him, and the family later came down to Egypt.

Stephen dwelt on Moses. When Moses defended an oppressed Israelite and struck the Egyptian, he supposed his people would understand that God was delivering them by his hand, but they did not (Acts 7:25). Forty years later the Lord spoke from the burning bush on holy ground and sent back the very man they had refused. Moses led them out, received living words at Sinai, and spoke of a prophet God would raise up; yet the fathers would not obey and made a calf.

Stephen then addressed the temple charge. David found favor and asked to build a dwelling, Solomon built a house, but the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet said heaven is God's throne. His closing words were sharp: like their fathers, they resisted the Holy Spirit, persecuted the prophets, and now betrayed the Righteous One, though they received the law ordained by angels (Acts 7:53).

Cut to the heart, they gnashed their teeth at him. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" They stopped their ears, rushed at him, threw him out of the city, and stoned him; the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. Stephen called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Kneeling, he cried, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!" and fell asleep.