Chapter 377 of 957

Stephen’S Defense

STEPHEN’S DEFENSE

ACTS 7:2-29

It may not seem that Stephen was saying much in this long account of history, but he was laying the foundation for his words at the end.

What Stephen said to the Jewish council is sometimes called his defense (ie an answer to the legal charges brought against him); but it is clearly more of an apology—that is, a statement of the teaching which had led to his arrest and prosecution. And as his doctrine touched the vital questions of Judaism’s validity and his own “blasphemy” against God, his address turns out to be an apologia for his own life.

There are three chief ideas which his lengthy re-telling of the Old Testament story is designed to emphasize:

the Jewish people, throughout their long history, have been inveterately rebellious against God and his accredited messengers;

God does not live in, nor does he desire, a material and fixed shrine. His presence is not confined to sacred sites, but accompanies his people, who are to be always a “pilgrim church” on earth; and

as a subsidiary theme, the Jewish people have not only rebelled against God and their leaders, they have consistently rejected the saviors whom God sent to them—the outstanding proof of this trait is to be seen in their recent rejection of their Messiah.

In Egypt Joseph was God’s answer to the threat of patriarchal extinction; but he suffered much indignity at the hands of his brothers (7:9). Moses, too, in a later period appeared as a heaven-sent deliverer, but he met opposition and misunderstanding (7:23ff.).

So far Stephen has been patiently laying the foundations of his argument. Later, he will draw some unwelcome conclusions, as far as his hearers are involved.

Notes 7:2: the call to Abraham, given in verse 3, is placed before his removal to Haran. Genesis 11:31ff. give it after his arrival there; but Genesis 15:7 shows that God was responsible for his leaving Ur, and this implies some communication with the patriarch. 7:6: “aliens”—a theme throughout the speech” (F.F. Bruce). Cf. Hebrews 11:8-16. 7:14: the Hebrew text of Genesis 46:27; Exodus 1:5; Deuteronomy 10:22 gives the number as seventy; but the Septuagint reads seventy-five. 7:20: an addition to the Old Testament account found in Philo. 7:22: again, extra-biblical sources (Josephus, Philo) comment on the wisdom and accomplishments of Moses in Egypt. Stephen shows acquaintance with these traditions.

↑ Back to top