Stephen's Defense Before The Sanhedrin (Part 1) Series

STEPHEN’S DEFENSE BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN

(Part I)

Acts 7:1-34

(Antioch Baptist Church: Wednesday, February 4th, 2026)

There are certain sermons that have been preached throughout church history that are considered “great”. Some examples are Johnathan Edwards’s sermon “Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God”, R.G Lee’s “Payday Someday”, and W.A Criswell’s “The Scarlet Thread Through The Bible”. The reason that these sermons are so powerful is because they are grounded in the Holy Scriptures.

The New Testament records several sermons that are exceptionally powerful and very important. The greatest sermon ever preached was delivered by the greatest Preacher who ever lived; I am referring to “The Sermon On The Mount” that was preached by the Lord Jesus Himself. Jesus also delivered another important sermon shortly before His Passion; we often refer to this as “The Olivet Discourse”.

Thus far in our study of Acts we have covered two noteworthy sermons that were preached by the Apostle Peter. The first was delivered on the Day of Pentecost and the other was preached at Solomon’s Portico. As we arrive in chapter seven we find another amazing sermon that was preached in Jerusalem. The man whom God used to deliver this sermon was named Stephen.

Stephen has been taken before the Sanhedrin and charged with blasphemy; speaking against the Temple, Moses and God. Attempting to cover everything that is recorded in Stephen’s sermon would be a monumental task. Though we cannot examine it all, I would like to consider the primary subjects that he presented in defense of his faith.

- Let’s look to the text and examine “Stephen’s Defense Before The Sanhedrin”.

It is likely that the high priest at this time was Caiaphas; the same high priest who presided over the unjust trial of Jesus. Upon hearing the charges leveled against Stephen, he asked him, “Are these things so?” (v1). This question opened the door for Stephen to make his defense and in the process he confronted the unjust actions of the Jewish people, indicted the religious leaders, and he provided ample evidence that Jesus is the promised Messiah.

In his remarks Stephen gives a brief history lesson concerning the nation of Israel. He speaks of Abraham, the patriarchs, Moses, and the apostasy of Israel. In the end, he declared that the leaders of Israel were guilty of resisting the Holy Spirit, killing the prophets, neglecting the Law of God, and rejecting Christ.

Stephen must have known how dangerous it would be to proclaim such a bold message aimed at the members of the Sanhedrin. If he had simply compromised and altered his message, perhaps his life would have been spared. This faithful servant of God was not concerned with his physical life; risking persecution and death, Stephen planted his feet and boldly preached the truth.

- As we join the crowd that was gathered we will hear:

STEPHEN’S REFERENCE CONCERNING THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM

Stephen begins by describing the origins of the Hebrew nation. It is important to remember that he has been accused of blasphemy. Perhaps his goal was to establish the fact that he believed in the very God that the Jews claimed to serve. He seeks to establish the fact that the Gospel of Christ is not opposed to Jewish history, traditions and doctrine; rather, it is the fulfillment of everything that had been handed down in the Law and through the prophets.

Stephen wants his audience to know that Abraham’s worship was acceptable to God even though it was not confined to a specific location. This was important because Stephen had been accused of speaking against the Temple. (Acts 6:13 “They also set up false witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law”).

Stephen sought to prove that Israel was favored by God before the formation of the Tabernacle or the building of either of their two Temples. This reality is illustrated in the life of Abraham. God called Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia and led him to Canaan. “The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you' (v2-3).

After this amazing call, Abraham set out to obey the command of the Lord. Abraham obeyed God and journeyed to Haran and then on to Canaan. Verse four says, “Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.”

Stephen goes on to say that God promised Abraham and inheritance. “And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him” (v5)