Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 7:1-16.
Stephen has been accused by the Sanhedrin of blaspheming God and Moses, so he begins his proclamation with Abraham in order to set Moses in the proper place. God’s promises to Abraham are primary over the Law given to Moses. Stephen recounts the grace of God shown to Abraham in bringing him into the land of Canaan and giving him the promised child. Stephen traces the line through Isaac and Jacob before focusing again on the account of Joseph. Though his brothers initially hated Joseph, God brought Joseph out of slavery and into authority in Egypt in order to rescue His people. Though the patriarchs initially rejected Joseph, they were later brought to repentance. Stephen’s desire in preaching to the Sanhedrin is that they do the same. Though they have rejected Jesus, Stephen preaches to them in the hopes that they will be brought to repentance.
“To the End of the Earth” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Acts. In his second volume, St. Luke records all the things that Jesus continued to do through the ministry of His Church. By the end of the book, the proclamation of the Lord’s Word that began in Jerusalem grows all the way to Rome. By God’s grace, even now, that same Word is proclaimed to us.
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