Acts 6:8-7:1 Stephen's arrest

Acts 6:8-15 Stephen serves in the power of the Holy Spirit, and is arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin on the charge of blasphemy. Some Jews attempted to argue with Stephen about the gospel, most likely disputing specific facts or perhaps the interpretation of the Old Testament. But the Holy Spirit gave such a powerful revelation to Stephen that he was able to answer with wisdom and the power of the Spirit that these Jews were unable to respond to the arguments.

          As an indication of the extent to which the Jews had bought into the world's system, they turned to the legal system in an attempt to get rid of Stephen, since they could not answer his religious arguments. But their accusation reflects a partial understanding of what he was saying. They accused him of saying that Jesus will destroy the Law of Moses, which is true in one respect. Because the redemption that Jesus offers brings grace with the power of the resurrection from the dead, the good news transcends the law. Paul elaborates this in great detail. (Romans 2-8) It is not that the law is gone, but that the law could not save. Jesus could and would save. Stephen understood this. His accusers did not. So they brought him to the Sanhedrin where he was to be questioned.

Acts 7:1-53 Stephen's defense. In this chapter there is a theme and there are points made, but we have to accept on faith that this was inspired by the Holy Spirit, first because of Acts 6:15, and second as a fulfillment of Jesus' promise in Luke 12:11-12. It is possible the construct an outline of this message. But it is more likely that the Spirit led Stephen to say specific words fit to the occasion, and as Acts 8:1, 22:20, and 26:14 suggest, they pierced deeply into Paul's heart, ultimately being part of what led to his conversion. And so it must be that when the Holy Spirit gives us words to speak, we must commit our words and our lives to Him, because in such circumstances, God is at work in ways we do not fathom.

Acts 7:1 The high priest asks if the accusations are true. What were the accusations? According to Acts 6:13-14:

•   Stephen incessantly spoke against the holy place (the Temple), saying that Jesus will destroy it;

•   He incessantly spoke against the law, saying that Jesus will alter the customs that Moses gave them

Stephen's response is filled with quotes from the Old Testament. A significant aspect of Stephen's discussion is that God's dealing with the patriarch's precedes the Law of Moses, and the building of the Temple.