Stephen, who was doing great wonders and signs among the people, was brought before the Jewish council after being falsely accused of blasphemy. When questioned by the high priest, Stephen recounted the history of God's people from Abraham to Moses. This enraged those listening, and Stephen saw a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God before being stoned to death, praying for his persecutors as he died.

1. Stephens Defense
Heritage Addition church of Christ
By Jim Bradshaw
Sunday Evening, June 21, 2015
Text: Acts 6:8 – 7:60

2. How Do You Plead?

3. A Face Like an Angel
Act 6:8-15 ESV And Stephen, full of
grace and power, was doing great
wonders and signs among the people.
(9) Then some of those who belonged
to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it
was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of
the Alexandrians, and of those from
Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed
with Stephen. (10) But they could not
withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with
which he was speaking. (11) Then they
secretly instigated men who said, "We
have heard him speak blasphemous

4. A Face Like an Angel
Act 6:8-15 continued (12) And they
stirred up the people and the elders and
the scribes, and they came upon him
and seized him and brought him before
the council, (13) and they set up false
witnesses who said, "This man never
ceases to speak words against this holy
place and the law, (14) for we have
heard him say that this Jesus of
Nazareth will destroy this place and will
change the customs that Moses
delivered to us." (15) And gazing at
him, all who sat in the council saw that

5. A Face Like an Angel
Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of grace and
power, was doing great wonders and
signs among the people.
Acts 6:10 But they could not withstand
the wisdom and the Spirit with which he
was speaking.
Acts 6:15 And gazing at him, all who sat
in the council saw that his face was like
the face of an angel.

6. A Face Like an Angel
Mat 18:10 ESV "See that you do not
despise one of these little ones. For I tell
you that in heaven their angels always
see the face of my Father who is in
heaven.
Luk 1:19 ESV And the angel answered
him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the
presence of God, and I was sent to
speak to you and to bring you this good
news.

7. Are These Things So?
Act 7:1 ESV And the high priest said,
"Are these things so?"
• What do we often do?
• You don’t really believe in
creation?
• You don’t really think it matters
if we use instruments in worship
• You don’t think that water can
really save one do you????
• Oh, y’all think that only
members of the “Church of
Christ are going to heaven

8. Are These Things So?
Act 7:1 ESV And the high priest said,
"Are these things so?"
• Acts 7:2-50
• The history of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob.
• Joseph sold by his brothers into
slavery.
• History of Moses, and the exodus.
• Wandering in the wilderness for 40
years
• Etc., Etc.

9. Are These Things So?
Act 7:1 ESV And the high priest said,
"Are these things so?"
Act 7:51-53 ESV "You stiff-necked
people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,
you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your
fathers did, so do you. (52) Which of the
prophets did your fathers not persecute?
And they killed those who announced
beforehand the coming of the Righteous
One, whom you have now betrayed and
murdered, (53) you who received the
law as delivered by angels and did not
keep it."

10. Are These Things So?
Exo 32:9-10 ESV And the LORD said to
Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold,
it is a stiff-necked people. (10) Now
therefore let me alone, that my wrath may
burn hot against them and I may consume
them, in order that I may make a great
nation of you.“
Exo 33:5 ESV For the LORD had said to
Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, 'You are
a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment
I should go up among you, I would consume
you. So now take off your ornaments, that I

11. Are These Things So?
2Ch 30:8 ESV Do not now be stiff-necked as
your fathers were, but yield yourselves to
the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which
he has consecrated forever, and serve the
LORD your God, that his fierce anger may
turn away from you.

12. The Son of Man Standing
Act 7:54-60 ESV Now when they heard
these things they were enraged, and
they ground their teeth at him. (55)
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into
heaven and saw the glory of God, and
Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
(56) And he said, "Behold, I see the
heavens opened, and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God." (57)
But they cried out with a loud voice and
stopped their ears and rushed together
at him.

13. The Son of Man Standing
Act 7:54-60 continued (58) Then they
cast him out of the city and stoned him.
And the witnesses laid down their
garments at the feet of a young man
named Saul. (59) And as they were
stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit." (60) And
falling to his knees he cried out with a
loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin
against them." And when he had said
this, he fell asleep.

14. The Son of Man Standing
Act 7:54-60 ESV Now when they heard
these things they were enraged, and
they ground their teeth at him. (55)
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into
heaven and saw the glory of God, and
Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
(56) And he said, "Behold, I see the
heavens opened, and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God."
(57) But they cried out with a loud
voice and stopped their ears and rushed
together at him.

15. The Son of Man Standing
Act 7:60 And falling to his knees he cried
out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not
hold this sin against them." And
when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Luk 23:34 ESV And Jesus said, "Father,
forgive them, for they know not what
they do." And they cast lots to divide his
garments.
1Jn 1:9 ESV If we confess our sins, he
is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all