Page 45 - Acts Student Textbook

8.4 Let’s Practice…

1. Read through Stephen’s speech. This is not a colorless recitation of historical facts, but
a development of several principles that can be plotted throughout the history of Israel.
Identify at least four of these with supporting texts:

2. Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. What does it mean that Jesus stood at the
right hand side of God?

3. What major lessons do we get (on the part of Saul) from the fact that those stoning Stephen laid
their garments at the feet of Saul of Tarsus?

4. What similarities can we trace from Stephen’s death to that of Jesus?

5. In what ways can we prove that Stephen’s narration of the Old Testament was accurate and
inspired?

8.5 Let’s Personalize this Lesson…

One of Stephen’s concerns in his message to the Jewish leaders was that they, like their
forefathers had rejected God’s prophets and had always resisted the Holy Spirit. So
they were guilty of the sins of their forefathers. The fact that you are right now taking
this course, I assume that you accept all God’s prophets and the Holy Spirit. The big
question I will ask is whether you follow and practice in obedience the authority of the
Scriptures in totality? See, it is one thing to believe and accept, and to be theologically correct, and it
is another thing to put to practice the very things we accept. The moment we don’t follow the
authority of the Scriptures, we fall under the same condemnation as the Jewish leaders and their
forefathers. James says that we deceive ourselves if we are only hearers and never follow the
authority of the Scriptures (James 1:22), and so do many other Scriptures bear witness to this fact. I
challenge you to examine your obedience to the authority of the Scriptures.

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