Acts 07:37-53 Stephen’s Sermon Stings – audio

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Text: Acts 7:37-53

Introduction

Last Sunday night’s sermon helped us learn about those with hardened hearts and stiffened necks. Today we want to study about many that suffered from those symptoms, and the damage that was caused.

In fact, it is very relevant for all of us even today.

Body

I. Stephen preached about Moses.

A. Many years earlier, Moses told the children of Israel that God would raise up for them a Prophet like him (Acts 7:37). The Old Testament records when Moses spoke these words (Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19).

Naturally, that Prophet was Jesus Christ! Jesus would later appear with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration, and it was made clear that we should no longer hear Moses or the prophets, but rather Christ (Matthew 17:4-5).

B. Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, and later gave them God’s commandments from Mt. Sinai (Exodus 12-20).

Stephen said their fathers rejected those commandments (Acts 7:38-39). John also testified that Moses gave the law, but grace and truth came from Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

C. The people denied Moses and turned back to Egypt in their hearts (Acts 7:40-43). They also began to serve idolatry (Exodus 32, Deuteronomy 9:16).

II. Stephen preached about Christ.

A. Just as their fathers rejected Moses, the people rejected Christ who Moses spoke about (Acts 7:51-53).

1) The LORD taught Samuel that Israel had rejected Him from reigning over them (1 Samuel 8:7).

2) The LORD sent prophets, and as Stephen said, they were all killed (2 Chronicles 36:15-16).

3) Stephen’s audience was stung by hearing they were betrayers and murderers (Acts 7:52-53). Maybe some heard something similar by Peter (Acts 2:22-24,36; 3:13-15,18).

B. Moses was the lawgiver until Christ came (Galatians 3:19). When Christ arrived, He is the Mediator of the New Covenant (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 12:24).

C. The common factor between the people of Moses’ day and Christ’s day is they both resisted the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51).

1) The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (Ephesians 1:14).

2) We should not grieve the Holy Spirit as Stephen knew they were doing (Ephesians 4:30).

3) God gives us the Holy Spirit, and by rejecting Him we reject God (1 Thessalonians 4:8; 2 Timothy 3:16).

4) God reveals the hidden things through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10; 2 Peter 1:16-21).

Conclusion

Jesus taught that people would not always listen to Him, and they will not always listen to us.

Jesus says that when people hear us, they hear Him; if they reject us, they reject Him (Luke 16:10; John 13:20).

Jesus also knew that as He was persecuted, we will also (John 15:20). Stephen was then persecuted, even to death (Acts 7:54ff.).