STEPHEN’S DEFENSE BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
(Part II)
Acts 7:35-53
(Antioch Baptist Church: Wednesday, February 11th, 2026)
It is interesting to see the many ways that people respond to the preaching of the Holy Scriptures. Jesus spent over three years preaching in the regions of Galilee. The overwhelming majority of people who heard the greatest sermons delivered by the greatest Preacher who ever lived rejected His message of salvation.
After His ascension, Jesus entrusted the preaching of the Gospel to His Apostles. Those men were faithful to preach the Word in Jerusalem as a result they were put into custody, threatened, and even beaten. However, there were many who heard their message and believed the Gospel, and this led to the rapid growth of Christ’s Church.
Stephen was another faithful servant who paid a great price for boldly preaching the Gospel. Though his ministry was relatively short, the Lord used him to advance His cause. Some men from “the Synagogue of the Freedmen” were highly offended by the content of his preaching in the local Synagogues. In response, they secretly induced certain men to bear false witness against him. They accused him of speaking “blasphemous words against Moses and God” and against “the Temple and the Law”. Their lies “stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes” and “they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.” (6:12)
Stephen addressed the council and defended his faith; in doing so he presented a wonderful survey of the Old Testament and a history of the Nation of Israel. This far in our study of Stephen’s defense we have seen:
STEPHEN’S REFERENCE CONCERING THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM
STEPHEN’S REFERENCE CONCERNING THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS
STEPHEN’S REFERENCE CONCERNING THE LIFE OF JOSEPH
STEPHEN’S REFERENCE CONCERNING THE LIFE OF MOSES
- I invite you to join me in verses 35-53 as we conclude our study of “Stephen’s Defense Before The Sanhedrin”.
Up to this point, Stephen has simply given a concise and accurate history lesson concerning the Nation of Israel. The men of the Council would not have had a problem with anything Stephen said in the first half of his defense. However, beginning in verse 39 he transitions to a subject that they may not have liked but they could not deny. His subject matter was the apostasy and rebellion of their ancestors.
- Let’s take a moment and examine:
STEPHEN’S REFERENCE CONCERNING THE APOSTASY OF ISRAEL
Apostasy is defined as “the abandonment or renunciation of a religious belief”. Throughout their history, Israel had abandoned God time and time again. In order to understand the rebellion of Israel, it is important to know what (and whom) they were rebelling against. The children of Israel rejected Moses, but ultimately they rejected God. These people who accused Stephen of blaspheming God and speaking against Moses were the children of people who had rebelled against both God and Moses. Furthermore, they were guilty themselves, for they had rejected God’s Promised Messiah, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
- Stephen reminds his audience that:
ISRAEL REBELLED IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE TABERNACLE
The first time they rejected Moses was after he defended one of them against and Egyptian. (v23 Now when Moses was 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 and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.)
Moses saw an Israelite being abused by an Egyptian, he intervened and in the process he killed the Egyptian. The following day he encountered two Israelites who were fighting; he intervened in this situation as well and reminded these men that they were brothers. But the aggressor pushed Moses away and said 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?” (v27-28) As a result, Moses fled for fear and dwelt in Midian for 40 years. While there he became the father of two sons.
Stephen goes on to tell of the amazing experience on Mt. Sinai when God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and sent him to back to Egypt to deliver the Israelites. (v35 This Moses whom they rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.)
Moses was a “type” of Christ; in a sense he became the “savior” (deliverer) of the nation. Moses prophesied to the people concerning the arrival of the Promised Messiah. (v37 "Moses said to the children of Israel, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.') In verse 38 Stephen described Moses’ role as lawgiver to the people while in the wilderness. (v38 This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us).
He went on to tell about the second time that Moses was rejected by the people and of their wickedness in fashioning and worshipping a golden calf. (v39 Moses whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' 41 And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.)
In verses 42-43 Stephen continues to describe the apostasy and idolatry of the people of Israel. (v42 Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: 'Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of your god Remphan, Images which you made to worship; And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.')
Even after God raised up Moses to deliver them from the strong hand of Pharaoh, the people of Israel turned away from the One True God and worshipped “the host of Heaven”; (this is a reference to the heavenly bodies.) The people worshipped Moloch and Remphan. Moloch was the Canaanite sun god; the exact identity of Remphan is unknown but many believe that this is a reference to Repa, the Egyptian name for the planet Saturn. God warned that because of their sinful rebellion, Israel would be taken into captivity in Babylon. The scriptures reveal that they were indeed enslaved in Babylon for many years.
- Israel rebelled before the Tabernacle and in verses 44-45 Stephen declares that:
ISRAEL REBELLED DURING THE DAY’S OF THE TABERNACLE
v44 "Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, 45 which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David,
Again, I remind you that Stephen has been accused of speaking against the temple. His aim is to prove that acceptable worship is not exclusive to a specific location. Before a temple was ever erected, God commanded Moses to construct the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a sacred (mobile) tent that was designed for the worship and service of God. This was the place where God promised to meet with His people.
Before and during the days of the Tabernacle, the people of Israel were guilty of rebellion. Sadly, their rebellion continued on into the days of the Temple. In verses 46-47 Stephen declared that:
ISRAEL REBELLED DURING THE DAYS OF SOLOMON’S TEMPLE
v46 (David) found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built Him a house.
When David was King he desired to build a Temple for the Lord. However, the Lord would not allow him to accomplish this task. Later, when his son Solomon reigned as King, the first Temple was built. We refer to this as “Solomon’s Temple”.
It is important to point out that the glory and majesty of God cannot be contained within any earthly temple. Solomon spoke to this fact when the Temple was dedicated and Isaiah covered this as well. In his defense, Stephen referenced the words of the prophet Isaiah that are recorded in Isaiah 66:1-2. Notice: v48 However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49 'Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest? 50 Has My hand not made all these things?'
Stephen wanted His audience to understand that even though the Temple was indeed sacred, God was greater than any earthly structure. God never intended for the Tabernacle or the Temple to last forever. Both of these structures pointed to something (and Someone) greater that was to come in the future.
Up to this point Stephen has been speaking of the errors and sins of his audience’s Jewish ancestors. Though they may not have liked what they were hearing, they couldn’t disagree with the facts that he presented from Israel’s history. As we arrive in verse 51 there is a major transition in Stephen’s sermon. The Jewish leaders tolerated Stephen’s exposition of the History of Israel, but now he shifts his attention from the past to the present and it was here that the fury of the Jews reached a boiling point.
Israel Rebelled In The Days Before The Tabernacle, In The Days Of The Tabernacle, In The Days Of Solomon’s Temple and in verses 51-53 we will see that:
ISRAEL REBELLED DURING THE DAYS OF HEROD’S TEMPLE
After the exiles returned from their bondage in Babylon they began work on the second Temple. This temple had been in existence for about 500 years when Herod the Great became king of Judea. As a result of natural decay and attacks from the enemies of Israel, the Temple was in disrepair and Herod offered to rebuild it. He did this in an effort to gain the approval and favor of the people.
Work on the Temple began in the year 18 B.C. The main part of the building was completed in ten years. However, the construction of the outer courts and other parts of the Temple complex continued for several decades. In fact, this work was still in process in the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
In a confrontation with the Jews Jesus said: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body” (John 2:19-21). What became known as “Herod’s Temple” was finally completed in A.D 65; however, this Temple would not last for very long. As Jesus had prophesied, this Temple was destroyed; in A.D 70 the Romans Jerusalem and the Temple was utterly destroyed.
Just before His Passion, the Disciples spoke to Jesus about the majesty of the Temple complex. (Mark 13:1 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" 2 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.")
I am sure that even the Lord’s Disciples had a hard time grasping the concept that one day the Temple would no longer exist. The common Jews thought it preposterous that such a massive complex could be destroyed. But, just as Jesus predicted it was destroyed and has never been rebuilt. There is simple but important lesson to be learned from this reality; the lesson is, when Jesus speaks LISTEN TO HIM!!
This whole discourse began when the Jewish leaders charged Stephen with speaking against the Law, the Temple, Moses & God. Now Stephen turns the tables and indicts his own accusers. He says - v51"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it."
Stephen boldly compares his Jewish listeners to “uncircumcised Gentiles”. Like their ancestors, they were guilty of consistently resisting the Holy Spirit. Their fathers had persecuted the prophets who spoke of the coming of Christ and now they were guilty of murdering the One whom the prophets had pointed to.
The main theme of Stephen’s sermon was that Israel had repeatedly rejected God’s message, His messengers (the Prophets) and they had rejected His Messiah, thus rejecting God Himself! We are certainly impressed by the boldness of Stephen, but it is important to understand that these were not his words; he was a messenger sent with a message directly from God. We are told in verse 55 that Stephen was “full of the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit knew the hearts of every person in attendance, and He knew that they were “stiff-necked” and “uncircumcised in hearts and ears”.
I am sure you are wondering how this message, delivered to a Jewish audience, about Jewish history is applicable almost 2,000 years later to a small assembly of gentile Believers. I think there are several important truths that we can take away from this passage that will be very beneficial in our current context. First of all, Stephen’s defense shows us that:
WE MUST KNOW THE SCRIPTURES
It is clear that Stephen was well versed in the Old Testament scriptures. Everything that he said could be proved from the sacred writings themselves. Stephen’s audience may not have liked what he had to say, but they could not deny any of it. Likewise, it is essential for us to know the Word of God. We are blessed to live in a time where we have more access to the Bible than any other point in history. There was a time when God’s people did not have access to His Word. Many men and women sacrificed their lives to translate and publish the Scriptures so that people could hear, learn and be transformed by the Word of God.
In the past people couldn’t just open a Bible and hear from God; in the present we are able to carry multiple versions, along with commentaries, dictionaries, and many other resources in our pocket! We are blessed to be able to study God’s Word and commune with Him any time, day or night. It is important for us to spend time learning the truths that God has handed down throughout history. It is not enough to know the Scriptures; Stephen shows us that:
WE MUST BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES
Stephen did not just know the Old Testament; he believed every word of it! This is apparent in the fact that he was willing to die in defense of the truth of God’s Word. Believing the Scriptures truly changed his life. Sure, it cost him his life, but because of the truths that he believed he was able to die with hope and assurance.
Stephen knew that Christ was the promised Messiah. God had spoken to His people through the Law, the Prophets, the Apostles, and even Christ Himself; Stephen believed the words and trusted that every promise from God would be fulfilled.
Stephen was being examined by the men of the Sanhedrin; these men knew the scriptures better than anyone. However, their vast knowledge was not enough, for it is apparent that they truly did not believe the words that God had given them in the past. Likewise, there are many people today who have much knowledge when it comes to the truths contained within the scriptures, but tragically they do not possess the spiritual discernment to actually believe what is written. When someone truly knows and believes the Word of God it will change their life! This leads us to something else that Stephen teaches us and that is the fact that:
WE MUST APPLY THE SCRIPTURES
Stephen didn’t just know what the Old Testament said; he believed it and applied it. Trusting in Jesus changed every aspect of his life; so much so that he was willing to lay down his life in faithful service of the Lord. Furthermore, Stephen so believed the scriptures that he possessed genuine compassion for his fellow Israelites. Though they had arrested him and would soon kill him, it was his desire for them to come to saving faith in Jesus. Even as they were stoning him to death he cried out “do not lay this sin to their charge”.
When we know and truly believe the Word of God we too will apply it. When we live according to the truths in God’s Word it will have an impact on every area of our lives. This begins with believing the Gospel and responding by repenting and surrendering to Jesus Christ for salvation.
After this, as we study the scriptures and obey what is written therein we will live lives that are pleasing to God. We will grow in grace and knowledge and we will increasingly become more and more like our Savior. Ultimately this process will result in us possessing great compassion for those who are without Christ and lost in their sins. This compassion will motivate us to share Jesus with them. It is likely that people will have contempt for us just as the Jews had contempt for Stephen; regardless we have been called to share the truth of God’s Word that has changed our lives eternally!
- We must know the scriptures, we must believe the scriptures, we must apply the scriptures, and finally Stephen shows us that:
WE MUST DEFEND THE SCRIPTURES
If Stephen had altered his message, his life may have been spared. However, even in the face of death he refused to compromise the truth of the Gospel. Filled with the Spirit, he preached the truth of God’s Word and he defended what he believed until the very end.
When we know, believe and apply the scriptures we may find ourselves in a position where we have to defend them. Peter said, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:14-15)
Having to defend the truth of God’s Word is increasingly becoming a reality in the day and in the society in which we live. God’s Word has been under attack since the beginning of time. What we are see today is nothing new but it is becoming more prevalent than it was in days gone by. If you live by and share God’s Word in the world around you, you will be mocked, shunned, opposed and even persecuted. It is important for you to learn from the example of Stephen and plant your feet and speak the truth no matter the consequences.
This passage shows us just how severe those consequences may be. Defending the truth cost Stephen his life, but the following verses show us that he died with great hope and assurance. If we will study, know, believe, apply, and defend the scriptures we can live and die with the same confidence that Stephen possessed.
I truly hope that you know and believe the inspired Word of God. Moreover I pray that you believe it to the point of applying (living by) it. When you face opposition because of your faithfulness to God’s Word I encourage you to be ready, willing and able to defend it just as we have seen in “Stephen’s Defense Before The Sanhedrin.”
02112026
