Stephen

Introduction: In this story the patriarchs refers to the forefathers of the Jews, especially the sons of Jacob. 8 Now a man named Stephen full of faith and the power of the Holy Spirit was performing great wonders and

signs among the people. But some men rose up and caused others to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and brought Stephen before the Council. They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this temple and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us." And the Council saw Stephen’s face shinning like an angel. And fixing his gaze on him, the high priest said, "Are these things so?" And Stephen said, "Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham and

said to him, "LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.' Then Abraham left. 8 So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. "The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and Pharaoh made Joseph governor over all Egypt. Now a famine came over Egypt and Canaan, and Jacob went down to Egypt. Then there arose another

king over Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph, and He took advantage of our people and mistreated our fathers. It was at this time that Moses was born and Moses fled from Pharaoh to the land of Midian. "After forty years, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO MOSES IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING BUSH.

When Moses saw the bush he came forward to look more closely and the voice of the Lord said: ‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB. TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE

STANDING IS HOLY GROUND. I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR CRIES AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM. COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.’ “This Moses led our people out of Egypt, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red

Sea. Then later David found favor in God's sight, and asked that he might build a dwelling place for God. But God does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

49'HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET; WHAT KIND OF

HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?' says the Lord, 'OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR ME TO REST? WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?' “You Jewish men who are stubborn and uncircumcised in heart and are always resisting the Holy Spirit, you

are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” When the Jewish leaders heard this they were stung to fury by Stephen’s accusation and ground their teeth in rage. But being full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God and Stephen said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But those listening cried out with a loud voice and began stoning him. The witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.