These small group Bible studies of Acts 7 contain commentary, discussion questions, and practical application. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Acts 7 Bible Study Guide – Stephen’s Powerful Sermon
Outline
I. Stephen reviews Israel’s history in the time of Abraham (1-8)
II. Stephen reviews Israel’s history in Egypt (9-19)
III. Stephen reviews Israel’s history in the time of Moses’ early life (20-29)
Optional Group Activity
If you study this passage in a group, you can do the following activity. Separate into four groups. Assign group 1 verses 1-8, group 2 verses 9-19, group 3 verses 20-29, and group 4 verses 30-44. Each group should spend thirty minutes reading their passage, discussing the discussion questions for each Scripture section below and in the next study on Acts 7 continued. Ask them to take notes and prepare to share a report of lessons learned with the main group.
When back to the main group
Share an overview of the verses you read. Share key lessons and principles learned. Share applications that we can make to our lives today.
What key themes can we see running through all of Israel’s history?
I. Stephen reviews Israel’s history in the time of Abraham (1-8)
Discussion Questions
• What would you have said if the high priest asked you, “Are these things so?” in regard to false accusations?
• Does Stephen defend himself?
• Why does he preach this sermon?
• What does the story of Abraham teach you about God?
• How did God show His faithfulness to Abraham?
• What commands did God give to Abraham? How were these difficult?
• What difficulties or trials did Abraham face? How did these help him grow?
• What do learn about God’s covenant to Abraham?
• What do we learn about timing?
• What key lessons can you learn from Abraham’s life?
• Why did Stephen review this history for the Sanhedrin?
• What applications can you make to your life today based on the life of Abraham and God’s interactions with Him?
Cross-References
Genesis 12:1-3 – Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 15:13-15 – Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Are these things so? –
The high priest gave Stephen a chance to defend himself. However, Stephen did not defend himself from any of the false allegations they accused him of. Instead, he launched into an epic sermon covering much of Israel’s history from the time of Abraham all the way up to Jesus.
Stephen used the opportunity to preach the gospel to the Sanhedrin and encourage them to repent. That took a lot of courage. Although it cost Stephen his life, he would probably do the same again if given another chance. He valued their souls more than he valued his own life.
Application – When you have the opportunity to share the good news with others, speak up. We have all been tempted to keep silent due to nerves or fear that we will be mocked or become less popular. Next time you are tempted to remain silent about the Lord, remember the example of Stephen. He followed the example of Christ and did not take the opportunity to defend himself, though he was innocent.
1 Peter 2:23 – When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
2. Overview of Stephen’s sermon –
Here are some of the key points of Stephen’s sermon.
A. The God of glory appears to His people in many times and places. He wants a relationship with His people. His glory is not limited to only the temple.
B. God was faithful to the Israelites throughout their history even when they were unfaithful. He always kept His covenant promises in spite of their disobedience.
C. Jesus is the prophet “like Moses” that was predicted and that they were waiting for (Acts 7:37).
D. The Israelites historically did not listen to God or the prophets He sent. The leaders sitting in judgment over Stephen killed the prophesied Righteous One. Hence, they were not righteous and had no standing before God. They should repent and place their faith in Jesus for salvation.
3. Go into the land I will show you –
We should all be willing to leave our “comfort zone” in order to follow God. Abraham left his country, his friends, and many of his relatives in order to follow God’s call to him. Note that when God told him to go, He didn’t immediately say where. Rather He told Abram to go “to the land I will show you.” So Abram was commanded to start a journey to a destination that still wasn’t revealed. The most important part of God’s command was to go, to start moving. Once Abram was moving it would be easy for him to change direction. But an object that is not moving cannot change directions.
Hebrews 11:8-10 – By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
At that time, traveling was not nearly as easy as it is today. The final journey was almost two thousand five hundred kilometers long. And there were many unknowns on the way. It was a world far more dangerous than today where the rule of law was not established. But Abraham was obedient. And because of his obedience, the world was changed forever.
Application – God may ask us to leave our comfort zone in order to follow him. This could take many forms. He may ask you to leave your family and country to serve Him. He may ask you to quit your job. He may tell you to share the gospel with somebody when it makes you nervous. He may ask you to befriend another believer or unbeliever and therefore spend less time with your own circle of friends.
Are you ready to make sacrifices, go into the unknown, put complete faith in God, and obey His call? It starts with the small things (Luke 16:10) and as you obey, He will give you more significant responsibilities. What do you think is an area where God is calling you to have faith in Him and leave your comfort zone?
4. Abraham didn’t receive the Promised Land in his lifetime –
Acts 7:5 – Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.
Not only did he not receive the land, he didn’t even have a child to receive who would be he his heir. Without a child, God’s promises to raise up a great nation of his descendants and give them the Promised Land could not happen.
Though there were moments of doubt on Abraham’s part, he believed God’s promises. He believed that God would give him a son in his old age. He is called the Father of Faith for a reason. Even though he didn’t see it with his own eyes, Abraham had faith that all of God’s promises would be fulfilled. If Abraham believed without seeing, how much more should Stephen’s contemporaries have believed after having witnessed Jesus’ life, miracles, and resurrection firsthand?
Application – Trust in God. His promises will be fulfilled. If He seems to delay, He does so for a reason. Patiently wait for His good timing. Are you waiting for God to do something in your life? Are you waiting patiently with faith?
5. God prophesies Israel’s future in Egypt and return to the land –
Acts 7:6-7 – And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’
God told Abraham exactly what would happen to his descendants. It happened exactly as God said.
Stephen shares this to remind them that God had His steady hand guiding His people through history. While their past had not always been smooth, the Lord was always with them.
II. Stephen reviews Israel’s history in Egypt (9-19)
Discussion Questions
• What does the story of Joseph and Israel’s time in Egypt teach you about God?
• How did God show His faithfulness to Joseph during this time? How did God show His faithfulness to Israel?
• What difficulties or trials did Joseph face? How did these help him grow?
• Was the covenant broken during this time? How do you see it being fulfilled even while they are exiles in a foreign land?
• What do we learn about timing?
• What key lessons can you learn from Joseph’s life?
• How did Joseph respond to all these things? (See Genesis 50:20)
• Why did Stephen review this history for the Sanhedrin?
• What applications can you make to your life today based on this passage?
Cross-References
Genesis 37:27-28 – Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. God’s sovereignty –
Acts 7:9-11 – And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food.
Joseph’s life is a great example of the sovereignty of God. A number of seeming disasters piled up. Many would have pronounced it God’s judgment or even ill fate. However, God was so great He used all of the evil actions of man to bring about His perfect plan. Through Joseph God’s people were preserved as well as many in Egypt. God used Joseph to save the fledgling nation of Israel from a devastating famine. The covenant was alive and had not been broken. Meanwhile, the prophesies that God made to Abraham about his descendant’s sojourning in a foreign land were coming true.
While God was doing all that with Israel as a whole, he was also working in the lives of Joseph and his brothers to bring about growth and maturity.
Joseph himself recognized God’s sovereign hand even in the severe afflictions he had faced.
Genesis 50:20 – As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
His life reminds us that there is more than just the short-term troubles we face. These do not happen in a vacuum. God uses them for good.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Reflect – Can you share about a time that something seemingly bad happened to you, but later you realized God intended it for good?
2. God greatly increased Israel in Egypt –
Egypt was the most powerful country in the world for most of the time Israel resided there. They had food to eat and a stable place to live. Because they were not native Egyptians, they likely would not have had to fight in Egypt’s wars. Egypt would not have even trusted them. The result is hundreds of years without the males dying at an early age from war. That meant longer lifespans, more marriages, and more children. All of these things resulted in a quickly multiplying the number of people. It expanded from a large family to a small nation.
Again, we see God was sovereign. Though they were slaves for part of that time, God used their time in Egypt to build them into a nation just as He had foretold.
God’s ways are not our ways. This is not likely how you would have done it. But the Lord’s purposes are perfect.
Psalms 18:30 – This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
III. Stephen reviews Israel’s history in the time of Moses’ early life (20-29)
Discussion Questions
• What does the story of Moses’ early years teach us about God?
• How did God show His faithfulness to Moses during this time? How did God show His faithfulness to Israel?
• How did Moses’ background as a prince of Egypt help prepare him for God’s calling?
• How do you see God fulfilling His covenant promises to Israel even during this difficult time?
• What do we learn about timing? How was Moses’ timing and God’s timing different?
• What do you learn from Moses’ first attempts to lead his brethren?
• What key lessons can you learn from Moses’ early life?
• Why did Stephen review this history for the Sanhedrin?
• What applications can you make to your life today based on this passage?
Cross-References
Hebrews 11:23-27 – By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
Romans 8:18 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Psalms 84:5 – Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. At this time Moses was born –
The people of Israel prayed. Moses was born. God’s plan was unfolding. Yet it would be eighty more years until Moses actually led the people out of Egypt. God’s plans are not accomplished in a day. It took eighty years for God to prepare Moses to be the kind of leader needed to deliver Israel from Egypt and lead them into their national future.
2. Moses was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter and was educated as such –
Acts 7:21-22 – And when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
God saved Moses’ life and put him in the right place to prepare him for future leadership. Moses would have learned many skills in the royal family. Some of these include reading, writing, and administration. Later he would use these skills as Israel’s leader and even in writing down the Torah.
The story of Moses is one of the most amazing in history. What real-life story is a better made-for-a-movie plot? I can’t think of one. God was the author of every detail.
God may allow us to go through certain things in life to prepare us for something else we will face decades later. The example of Moses reminds us that has a purpose for all of these things, though we may not see it at the time.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Application – Resolve to trusting in God even when you don’t understand how your situation fits into His plan for your life.
3. Moses stepped up to help his people, but it wasn’t yet time –
Acts 7:23-25 – When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.
At forty years old, Moses had a heart for his brothers. In Hebrews, we learn that he made a conscious decision to give up the passing pleasures of Egyptian royal power and identify with his afflicted brethren (Hebrews 11:23-27). So he defended one of his Israelite brethren and killed an Egyptian. It took a lot of courage to do this as he must have known Pharaoh would not be happy. In his mind, he was ready to do something to deliver them. But it wasn’t the right method.
But the Lord deemed that he was not yet ready. The time hadn’t come. Moses was attempting to use human power (his own) to save his people, but God was going to use supernatural power, which would glorify Him much more than yet another bloody man-made revolution.
While Moses had perhaps learned about power, prestige, and academics, he hadn’t yet learned about humility, compassion, and dependence on God, all vital lessons for leading God’s people well. A good leader must be a good man first and Moses needed to grow.
Application –
A. Remember that God’s time is not our time. Be willing to wait for his timing.
B. Don’t rashly move ahead of God and act on your own. When we do things by the flesh instead of depending on God, we make things worse.
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