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Author: Ron Graham

Book of Acts

Acts 7:42-60
—Verse by verse

This page is a verse by verse study of Acts 7:42-60. These verses describe Stephen’s rebuke to the Sanhedrin and his death at their hands..

Stephen rebukes the Sanhedrin, and they kill him with stones.

Acts 7:42-60

¶“41They made a calf idol in those days, and brought a sacrifice to it, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.” (Acts 7:41).

¶“42But God turned away and gave them up to worship the stars of Heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'Was it really to me that you offered slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? No, 43you carried with you the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Rephan, and the idols which you made to worship. So I will carry you away beyond Babylon.'; ” (Acts 7:42-43).

¶“44Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness. That tabernacle was made exactly as he who spoke to Moses commanded. Moses made it according to the pattern that he had been shown. 45Our fathers, in their turn, brought in the tabernacle when they entered with Joshua into the land possessed by the pagan nations. These nations God drove out as our fathers advanced. This continued until the days of David 46who found favor in the sight of God. David asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob, 47but it was Solomon who built him a house.” (Acts 7:44-47).

¶“48The Most High, however, doesn't dwell in temples made with hands. As the prophet says, 49'Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? 50Did not my hand make all these things?' ” (Acts 7:48-50).

¶“51You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! You do just what your fathers did. 52Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you yourselves have now become betrayers and murderers. 53You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and you didn't keep it!” (Acts 7:51-53).

¶“54Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they bared their teeth at him. 55But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. 56Stephen said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!' ” (Acts 7:54-56).

¶“57But they cried out with a loud voice, and blocked their ears, and all together rushed at Stephen. 58They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses threw their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59They stoned Stephen even as he called out, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!' 60Stephen then knelt down, and cried in a loud voice, 'Lord, don't hold this sin against them!' When he had said this, he fell asleep in death.” (Acts 7:57-60).

1 The Tabernacle for Idols

Verses 42-43

¶"But God turned away and gave them up to worship the stars of Heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets, “Was it really to me that you offered slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? No, you carried with you the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Rephan, and the idols which you made to worship. So I will carry you away beyond Babylon.” " (Acts 7:42-43).

2 The Tabernacle of Testimony

Verses 44-47

¶ "Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness. That tabernacle was made exactly as he who spoke to Moses commanded. Moses made it according to the pattern that he had been shown. Our fathers, in their turn, brought in the tabernacle when they entered with Joshua into the land possessed by the pagan nations. These nations God drove out as our fathers advanced. This continued until the days of David who found favor in the sight of God. David asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob, but it was Solomon who built him a house." (Acts 7:44-47).

3 The Tabernacle of Heaven

Verses 48-50

¶ "The Most High, however, doesn't dwell in temples made with hands. As the prophet says, “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?” " (Acts 7:48-50, Isaiah 66:1-2).


4 End of Stephen’s Speech

Verses 51-53

¶ "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! You do just what your fathers did. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you yourselves have now become betrayers and murderers. You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and you didn't keep it!" (Acts 7:51-53).

Stephen ceases to speak parabolically about the Sanhedrin’s ancestors. He now turns directly upon the Sanhedrin with five accusations...

5 End of Stephen’s Life

Verses 54-56

¶ "Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they bared their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” " (Acts 7:54-56).

Verses 57-60

¶ "But they cried out with a loud voice, and blocked their ears, and all together rushed at Stephen. They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses threw their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. They stoned Stephen even as he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Stephen then knelt down, and cried in a loud voice, “Lord, don't hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep in death." (Acts 7:57-60).


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