Acts Chapter 7:9 – end
Reading Acts we have to bear in mind that the speeches concerned Jewish thought so when we engage with the text we can learn lots about Jesus and the foundation of our faith.
These speeches may mean nothing to a congregation of seekers now. Of course there will always be those who will learn, engage and understand the historical relevance, but the impact and proof would not amount to the same as it did for the Jews with their belief and understanding of their history and its significance to the Messiah coming.
It was and is important however that the time line is laid out, that the basics were shared - so that we can all know and understand how things have fitted together. Stephens’s speech does this.
No doubt this is a Loooong speech. Not as long as some sermons we’ve been to though so read on!
Notice that Stephen’s speech does not end with a pardon. It does not offer hope and stone me the listeners did not like it. Perhaps a lesson to be learnt is that we all need hope, we all need a light to walk toward when we face a dead end.
Reading Acts we have to bear in mind that the speeches concerned Jewish thought so when we engage with the text we can learn lots about Jesus and the foundation of our faith.
These speeches may mean nothing to a congregation of seekers now. Of course there will always be those who will learn, engage and understand the historical relevance, but the impact and proof would not amount to the same as it did for the Jews with their belief and understanding of their history and its significance to the Messiah coming.
It was and is important however that the time line is laid out, that the basics were shared - so that we can all know and understand how things have fitted together. Stephens’s speech does this.
No doubt this is a Loooong speech. Not as long as some sermons we’ve been to though so read on!
Notice that Stephen’s speech does not end with a pardon. It does not offer hope and stone me the listeners did not like it. Perhaps a lesson to be learnt is that we all need hope, we all need a light to walk toward when we face a dead end.
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