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STEPHEN IS FAITHFUL TO DEATH, A LIVING FAITH


STEPHEN IS FAITHFUL TO DEATH

 DEVOTIONAL READING: Ephesians 6:13–20
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Acts 7:1–8:1


ACTS 7:51–60

51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he keeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

ACTS 8:1

1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

KEY VERSE
They stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.—Acts 7:59

A LIVING FAITH

Unit 2: Who Understands Faith?
LESSONS 6–9


LESSON AIMS

After participating in this lesson, each student will be able to:
1. Explain the circumstances of Stephen’s death.
2. Compare and contrast the rage that resulted in the murder of Stephen with adverse reactions to the preaching of the gospel today.
3. Write a prayer that asks for courage in the face of opposition.


LESSON OUTLINE

Introduction
      A.      Modern Martyrs
      B.      Lesson Background
          I.      Counter charges (ACTS 7:51–54)
      A.      Wrong Attitude (v. 51)
      B.      Wrong Actions (vv. 52, 53)
      C.      Angry Reaction (v. 54)
      Dealing with History
          II.      Vision (ACTS 7:55, 56)
      A.      What Stephen Sees (v. 55)
      B.      What Stephen Says (v. 56)
      Near-Death Experiences
          III.      Death (ACTS 7:57–60)
      A.      Mob’s Action (vv. 57, 58)
      B.      Stephen’s Reaction (vv. 59, 60)
          IV.      Legacy (ACTS 8:1)
Conclusion
      A.      Higher Cause
      B.      Prayer
      C.      Thought to Remember

The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2012–2013, ed. Ronald L. Nickelson and Jonathan Underwood (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 2012). 57-58.

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