In Acts chapter 7 we find ourselves invited into a powerful moment in early Christian history. Stephen, a man filled with the Spirit, stands before the council and shares a sweeping recount of our shared past—a journey through the history of Israel that is as much about the faithfulness of God as it is about our repeated failures. His words, delivered with a mix of sorrow, conviction, and hope, remind us that our story is inseparable from God’s enduring purpose.
Stephen begins by reminding us of the call given to our forefather Abraham. He speaks of how Abraham left his native land, driven by a promise from God—a promise of land, descendants, and blessing that still resonates with us today. This call echoes the command we read in Genesis 12:1, where God tells Abraham to “Go forth from your land, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.” In Stephen’s retelling, we see that Abraham’s journey was not simply about travel, but about trust and obedience, qualities that we are encouraged to embody in our own walk with God.
As Stephen unfolds the narrative, he touches on the lives of the patriarchs and how God moved through them. He recounts the story of Joseph, whose own life was marked by betrayal and suffering yet ultimately led to the salvation of many. In Joseph’s story, we see the hand of God at work even when circumstances seem dire. Stephen reminds us that the struggles of our ancestors were not wasted; rather, they were woven into a tapestry that pointed to God’s bigger plan—a plan that calls us to remain faithful even in our darkest hours.
The speech then shifts to the story of Moses, whose life transformed when he encountered God in the burning bush. We are reminded of that seminal moment when Moses was called to lead his people out of bondage. Stephen details how Moses, once a reluctant leader, became the instrument of God’s deliverance, guiding the Israelites out of Egypt and into the wilderness. This transformation challenges us to consider our own callings. Like Moses, we might sometimes resist God’s direction, yet when we yield, we can become vessels for His mighty works. His recounting resonates with the spirit of Exodus 3:2, where the burning bush not only revealed God’s holiness but also set the stage for a new beginning.
Stephen’s narrative continues with the wanderings in the wilderness—a time when the people of Israel were tested and, at times, faltered in their faith. He recalls how, despite witnessing miracles and receiving God’s provisions, the people repeatedly turned away from Him. This history is not told merely to recount failures; it is meant to highlight a deeper truth. Stephen warns us that the same hard-heartedness and resistance that characterized their journey can also affect our own lives if we forget the lessons of the past. The story becomes a mirror, asking us if we too have, at times, hardened our hearts against God’s truth.
Central to Stephen’s address is his challenge to the temple and its guardians. He argues that while the temple was built by human hands, it was not God’s dwelling place. Instead, God is present wherever we are filled with His Spirit. This radical idea is both an indictment and an invitation—a call for us to seek a relationship with God that transcends physical places and institutional boundaries. It reminds us of the promise in Jeremiah 7:23, where God calls us to obey His voice rather than merely follow rituals. For Stephen, the temple was not an end in itself, but a part of a much larger story of God’s presence among His people.
As Stephen nears the conclusion of his address, his tone becomes even more poignant. He accuses his listeners of resisting the Holy Spirit, of betraying and murdering the Righteous One. His words are not meant simply to condemn, but to lament the pattern of rejection that has marked human history. It is a call to recognize that the very people entrusted with the sacred traditions have, over time, strayed from the path of righteousness. His passionate words challenge us to reflect on our own lives and communities, to ask ourselves if we have ever allowed pride or stubbornness to cloud our judgment of God’s truth.
In the final moments of his speech, Stephen sees a vision that fills him with indescribable peace. He gazes upward and sees the glory of God, with Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father—a moment that encapsulates the fulfillment of God’s promise. Even as the stone-casters close in, Stephen’s last words are not cries of bitterness but of forgiveness. “Lord, do not charge this sin to them,” he pleads, echoing the same compassion we are called to extend to others.
This chapter leaves us with a profound challenge: to embrace the history of our faith with all its triumphs and failures, and to live in the light of God’s unfailing promise. As we reflect on Stephen’s powerful testimony, we are reminded that our journey is not just about the past—it is about how we choose to walk with God today, learning from the past and moving forward in the hope of eternal grace.