In our study yesterday Stephen was using Moses as an example of a man God chose to deliver Israel despite Israel having no desire for Moses to lead them. Today he continues, "This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, 'Who made you ruler and judge?' He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God Himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness." (Acts 7:35-36)
At various times the people of Israel rebelled against Moses and did not want him to lead them, but by Stephen's day Moses was highly respected---so highly respected that part of the false charges brought against Stephen involved him speaking against Moses. Since the Sanhedrin hold Moses in such high esteem, Stephen reminds them that Moses foretold the Christ. If they believe in taking the words of Moses to heart, why then did they not recognize Jesus as the Christ? "This is the Moses who told the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.' He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us." (Acts 7:37-38)
"But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. They told Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt---we don't know what has happened to him!' That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: 'Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile' beyond Babylon." (Acts 7:39-43) When the people rebelled against Moses and the law, they were rebelling against God. Stephen is making the point that in rebelling against Jesus Christ they are rebelling against God.
Stephen goes on, "Our ancestors had the tabernacle of covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, who enjoyed God's favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for Him." (Acts 7:44-47) The people have had the presence of God with them always, but that has not stopped them from being unfaithful to Him.
Stephen's enemies have falsely accused him of speaking against the temple. He wants them to understand that they are still observing a form of idolatry. They have elevated the temple to the level of God, so much so that to speak against the temple is considered blasphemy. He reminds them that God is bigger than the temple, bigger than the world, bigger than the universe, bigger than anything or anyone they can imagine. "However the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 'Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me?' says the Lord. 'Or where will My resting place be? Has not My hand made all these things?'" (Acts 7:48-50) The prophet mentioned here is Isaiah and the quote is from Isaiah 66. In Isaiah's day the people thought God would spare Jerusalem from invasion by Babylon because the temple was there. Time and again they refused to listen to prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah who urged them to repent. Because the people refused to turn from idolatry, God allowed the nation to be invaded and the temple to be destroyed. Such a thing will happen again if Stephen's listeners don't take heed and repent.
Now, like a prophet of old, Stephen confronts the Sanhedrin with their wrongdoing, "You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him---you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it." (Acts 7:51-53) These words, like the words of the prophets, will seal Stephen's doom. The Sanhedrin will put him to death just as their ancestors put the prophets to death. In tomorrow's passage this brave and faithful young man will give his life for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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