Elementary Sunday Lesson

Stephen’s sermon didn’t take place in a big church with a tall steeple. It took place when he was on trial after people lied about him and he was arrested. “He speaks against Moses,” one lied. “He wants to destroy the temple,” said another. As Stephen stood before the religious leaders, the high priest asked, “Are these things so?” (Acts 7:1). Stephen knew they were not so, but he chose to answer them with a sermon beginning with a history lesson. “Listen to me. Long ago, our glorious God appeared to Abraham and promised him a great family and a great land” (see 7:2–8). Then Stephen talked about how God rescued his people from slavery in Egypt and whom God used to rescue them—Moses!

He reminded them how the Lord spoke to Moses from the burning bush, “I am the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I have seen the sufferings of my people. I will now deliver them” (see Acts 7:32–34). Deliver them, he did! “Still, our fathers refused to obey him,” Stephen said. “And they even made a golden calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol” (see 7:39, 41). “But,” Stephen kept on preaching, “there were good times in our history—like when Joshua led our fathers into the promised land and when Solomon built the temple” (see 7:44–47). At this point, the leaders probably liked his message. But then Stephen got to his main point. A very pointed point—like the tip of an arrow: “You stiff-necked people, you always resist the Holy Spirit. You rejected the law, persecuted the prophets, and betrayed and murdered Jesus, the Righteous One” (see 7:51–53).

How do you think the leaders responded? They were so mad that they picked up stones to kill him. As they threw the stones at Stephen, he saw the heavens open and Jesus at the right hand of God. As he died, he said these final words: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” and “Do not hold this sin against them” (7:59, 60).