Bible Groups - Digests of Bible Commentaries

The Acts of the Apostles - Chapter 7

Revised 2014

Stephen's defence is not a response to the charges against him, but a review of how God's word has been received by Israel, ending with a plea for the hearing of God's word as announced by Christ and now possessed by the Christian community. The charges that Stephen reduced the importance of the temple and Mosaic law, and said Jesus was greater than Moses were true. Several prophets predicted that God would destroy a corrupt temple (Jer 7:11, Zec 14:21, Mal 3:1, Is 56:7). The differences between Judaism and Christianity are beginning to appear. The major impetus behind Christianity will now pass from Jerusalem to Antioch in Syria, where the influences of temple and law are less.
Stephen's speech represent's Luke's description of Christianity breaking from Judaism. Themes: (1) Israel has consistently rejected God's chosen leader in the past - the Essenes also believed that God had taken his promises away from Israel as a whole, because of their unfaithfulness, and only a remnant will be saved; (2) Israel has misunderstood God's choice of the Jerusalem temple as the place where he is to be worshipped: the climax is v48: "The Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands".
In Stephen's vision of salvation history the temple and the law have already fulfilled their purpose. He continues to respect the Mosaic Law and the temple, but as a Christian he believes that God's law is more universal and profound and the temple more spiritual - God can be worshipped anywhere. Judaism is brought to perfection in Christianity, and Moses is a "type" of Christ. Israel did not know Moses properly, so did not know God, and so failed to know Jesus (St John Chrysostum).
There are several (minor?) discrepancies between OT and Stephen's summary: God first spoke to Abraham in Haran (Gen 12:1); Jacob is buried at Hebron (Gen 50:13) in land purchased by Jacob himself (Gen 33:19, Jos 24:32).
55 Stephen affirms that Jesus' prophecy (Mk 16:42) has been fulfilled. The first time Jesus has been seen since the Ascension.
56 The only time anyone other than Jesus uses the term "Son of Man" in NT.
57 Stephen's words are indeed blasphemous to the Sanhedrin.
58 Stephen is thrown out of the city, just as Jesus was led outside the city.
59 The parallels with Jesus continue, with Stephen's two last utterances, but addressed not to the Father, but to Jesus whom he sees. There is no formal sentence, the Jews have no authority to sentence to death. But Stephen is lynched, with tacit approval from the Sanhedrin.
In Acts the figure of Peter has shown continuity with Jesus' ministry of healing and preaching; the figure of Stephen shows continuity with Jesus' death. In both cases Jesus' death was not the end: the Apostles receive Jesus' Spirit to carry on his work, and Saul is present at Stephen's death to continue his work.
Having laid the foundation for the mission to the Gentiles, Luke links in Saul/Paul, who will also be charged with attacking the temple and the law (Acts 22). These trial scenes may be Luke's defence against accusations that Christians were arousing opposition to the religious institutions, which Rome strongly protected to prevent this likely source of trouble. Luke is at pains to show that the Christians were frequently in the temple praying, and were true heirs to the Jewish tradition, and that the accusations against Jesus, Stephen and Paul of attacking the temple were false.
The attack on Stephen appears to start persecution of the Christians in Jerusalem, scattering them to carry God's word to other areas. But it appears that, apart from the brief rule of Herod Agrippa I (AD 41-44, Acts 12:1-23), only the Hellenists were so persecuted: the Hebrew Christians appear to have continued in peace, and Paul is able to visit Jerusalem at least 3 times in this period (AD 36-62) without having to take evasive measures. The period ends with the martyrdom of James in AD 62.