An Outline Of Acts 7 (Expanded Version)

--From the time of Solomon and the Temple to the present day, verses 51-53

51 Ye stiffnecked 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 shewed 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.

In these verses, Stephen changed the focus from Israel’s history to his current time. He accused them of being “stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears”—which was true, in that the religious leaders in front of Stephen were pretty much the same ones who had condemned or arranged for Jesus to be condemned to death.

Stephen also made reference to the prophets who had been persecuted. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself mentioned this in Matthew 23:35 and Luke 11:51. Paul even spoke of this in 1 Thessalonians 2:15 when he shared with them how the Jews had killed the prophets. Dr. Vance Havner wrote in one of his books how one generation would try to destroy the prophets but another generation would build monuments to them (see Matthew 23:30-31).

--The final reaction to Stephen’s message, verses 54-59

54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Note the reactions: they were “cut to the heart” but did not respond favorably to the message. Stephen must have sensed what was going to happen and declared how he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God! Eventually Stephen was stoned to death, but he prayed for those who were stoning him even to his last breath. Should any believer face martyrdom, may he or she experience the same grace towards them that Stephen showed to those who killed him.

Scripture quotations were taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).