Acts 7:1

Acts 7:1 says, Then said the high priest, Are these things so?  Stephen had simply been asked if the charges against him were true.  If we were arrested and falsely accused, what would we do?  I might begin to very loudly deny the charges.  Verse two adds, And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; We will see that Stephen knew his religious history.  Do we know how we came to be a part of God's family?  Could we as quickly recite the history of God's work leading up to Christ's coming, or of God's people since?  If we are really to understand what it means to be a follower of Christ, then we must know Who He really is and what led Him to the cross.  There need not be false charges brought against us.  We, like those on the council and even Stephen, are responsible for His death, but they didn't want to be reminded of that fact.  We will follow through Stephen's answer as he recites the history of God's people from Abraham to Christ.  Again, we like Stephen, must know who we are as God's people and be ready to share that with anyone who asks.  The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,  Verse three continues, And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.  Stephen recounted scripture that led up to Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, starting with Abraham. Those on the council were proud of being descendants of Abraham, but Stephen was reminding them of what it meant to be one of Abraham's descendants.  Verse four states, Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.  Stephen started with God’s call to Abraham to leave his country and go to a land that God would give him.  One day, we will leave this world and go to our heavenly home, but until then, we need to go where God calls us.  Verse five adds, And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.  Stephen said God made His promises to Abraham before he ever set foot in the promised land and before he even had any children who could make him a great nation.  We simply have to put our faith in God’s promises even if we haven’t seen any evidence of them coming to pass.  Verse six continues, And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.  Stephen spoke of God telling beforehand that the nation of Israel would become servants in a strange land for four hundred years.  As long as we are in this world as followers of Christ, we are strangers in a strange land.  Verse seven says, And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.  God said that He would then judge the land in which the Hebrews were held captive and bring them to His promised land.  We still await the promise of our heavenly home today, but it is coming.  Verse eight adds, And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. Stephen then spoke of the covenant relationship between Abraham and his descendants that was shown by circumcision.  The covenant passed down to Isaac and his sons.  Our sign today is the empty cross and tomb, and we must pass the gospel down to our children.  Verse nine continues, And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,  Stephen spoke of Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers and the fact that God was with him even in all his times of trouble.  Even if the world treats us badly today, if we remain true to our relationship with Jesus Christ, God will always be with us.  Verse ten says, And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.  By God’s grace, Joseph found favor in the sight of Pharoah and became a ruler in Egypt.  No matter how humble our situation in life may be, through Jesus Christ we can find favor with God.