The Rest of Stephen’s Sermon

by Matthew W. Bassford Acts 7:2-53 contains the longest sermon in the New Testament by anybody but Jesus. The speaker is Stephen, on trial for his life before the Sanhedrin, and he is accused of a number of crimes. According to Acts 6:11-13, he is accused of blaspheming God and Moses, speaking against the temple…

Read More

The Death of Stephen

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/DeathOfStephen.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 7:51-60   I.         The early church started in Jerusalem, during the Feast of Pentecost when many Jews were visiting from wide-spread nations. Acts 2:9-11 lists some of the representative nations.             A.        The church grew rapidly. Three thousand were added to the church on the first day – Acts 2:41             B.        By…

Read More

Could Stephen be making Moses out to be bigger than life?

Question: I know from Acts 7 it is said that Moses knew he was a Hebrew prior to the burning bush event.  What is your take on the possibilities that this was based on the Jewish tradition?  Acts was written by Paul who was brought up a Pharisee and in the strictest Jewish tradition, could…

Read More

Was Stephen lynched in Acts?

Question: Was Stephen lynched in Acts? Answer: “Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:57-58).

Read More

At what gate was Stephen stoned?

Question: At what gate was Stephen stoned? Answer: “Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they…

Read More

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.         Allen Webster tells the following story,             A.        “The municipal auditorium was full. The speech by the noted atheist was powerful. After a bombardment of the Bible, there came a moment of choice. If you still believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, stand up and be counted. The silence was…

Read More