Study From the Book of Acts,7

Study From the Book of Acts,7  

Today we study the seventh chapter of the Book of Acts and we choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

In the Book of Acts, the infant church faced opposition from Jew and Gentile alike. But with every successive wave of persecution, the church grew more and more. In hardships and trials, Christians depended increasingly   on the Lord for strength and guidance. In so doing, they demonstrated their faith to others.

Stephen, one of the seven men chosen to the needs of the neglected in the early church, became the first martyr of the Christian faith, but certainly was not the last. Although falsely accused of blaspheming Moses and God, his unfair treatment and violent death would serve as an example to persecuted believers throughout the centuries who would face similar trials for upholding the name of Christ.

The Book of Acts tells us that right after the stoning of Stephen, a zealous young Pharisee name Saul continued the persecution of the new faith by husting its members down and imprisoning them to face similar charges and similar fates.

Structure:

Verses 1-8: Stephen’s address: the call of Abraham.

Verses 9-16: the patriarchs in Egypt.

Verses 17-36: God delivers Israel by Moses.

Verses 37-43: Israel rebels against God.

Verses 44-50: God’s true tabernacle.

Verses 51-53: Israel resist the Holy Spirit.

Verses 54-60: Stephen the Martyr.

Principle 13: verse 7:9,10 – “But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles and gave him favour and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh----.”

Lesson 13: Stephen reminded his audience that Joseph had been persecuted by his own brothers, but that God used even their evil deeds to bless him. God always blesses obedience- but note that while Jospeh lived, Stephen died.

Principle 14: 7:60: --"Then he knelt down and cried out with a great voice, ‘Lord do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Lesson 14: Just as Jesus asked His father to forgive those who crucified Him in Luke 23:34, so Stephen asked God to give his murders a chance to repent. God’s grace enables us to do what we would never do on our own.16/3/2025.