LESSON 30

STEPHEN’S TESTIMONY – PART 2

Acts 7:8-14 King James Version (KJV)

⁸ 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. ⁹ And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. ¹² But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. ¹³ And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. ¹⁴ Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

1.   COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION V. 8-9a

Ø  Isaac

Ø  Jacob

Ø  Joseph

2.   GOD WAS WITH JOSEPH V. 9b-10

Ø  Delivered him out of his afflictions

Ø  Gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt

Ø  Made him governor over Egypt and all Pharaoh’s house

3.   DEARTH (FAMINE) V. 11

4.   JACOB HEARD THERE WAS FOOD IN EGYPT V. 12-13

Ø  Sent patriarch’s twice

Ø  Joseph made known to them

5.   JOSEPH CALLED HIS FATHER TO COME TO HIM V. 14

Ø  All his kindred came also – 75 persons total

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LESSON 29

STEPHEN’S TESTIMONY – PART 1

Acts 7:1-7 King James Version (KJV)

7 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? ² And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, ³ And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. ⁴ 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. ⁵ 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. ⁶ 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. ⁷ 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.

1.   THE QUESTION? V. 1

2.   STEPHEN’S ANSWER V.2-7

Ø  The God of glory

Ø  Called Abraham

Ø  Led him to Harran

Ø  Promised him the land where the Jews now lived

Ø  Didn’t give him anything at the time

Ø  Told of 400 years of bondage for Abraham’s offspring

Ø  Told of the judgment He would bring on that nation

Ø  All of this came to pass

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LESSON 28

STEPHEN, DEACON OF GOD

Acts 6:8-15 King James Version (KJV)

⁸ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. ⁹ Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. ¹¹ Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. ¹² And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, ¹³ And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: ¹⁴ For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. ¹⁵ And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

1.   STEPHEN V. 8

Ø  Full of faith and power

Ø  Did great wonders and miracles

2.   OPPOSITION V. 9-14

Ø  Groups from the synagogue against Stephen

Ø  Not able to resist his wisdom and spirit

Ø  Stirred up the people, elders and scribes

Ø  Caught him and brought him to council

Ø  Set up false witnesses

Ø  Lied about and twisted his words

3.   GOD’S PICTURE OF HIS SERVANT V. 15

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LESSON 27

CHOOSING DEACONS

Acts 6:1-7 King James Version (KJV)

6 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. ² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. ³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. ⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: ⁶ Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. ⁷ And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

1.   THE PROBLEM V. 1

2.   THE SOLUTION V. 2-4

3.   THE CHOOSING V. 5

4.   THE RESULTS V. 6-7

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LESSON 26

WISDOM, SUFFERING AND REJOICING

Acts 5:34-42 King James Version (KJV)

³⁴ Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; ³⁵ And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. ³⁶ For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. ³⁷ After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. ³⁸ And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: ³⁹ But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. ⁴⁰ And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. ⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

1.   GAMALIEL, A DOCTOR OF THE LAW V. 34-39

Ø  Take heed (be careful) how you handle these men

Ø  Theudas, Judas – came to nothing

Ø  Let these men alone: if of men will fail; if of God you cannot win

2.   AGREEMENT & PUNISHMENT V. 40

3.   APOSTLES REJOYCED IN SUFFERING V. 41

4.   DAILY CONTINUED TO TEACH AND PREACH JESUS CHRIST V. 42

WE NEED TO OBEY GOD AND DO HIS WORK EVEN IN SUFFERING

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LESSON 25

OPEN PERSECUTION CONTINUES

Acts 5:26-33 King James Version (KJV)

²⁶ Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. ²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, ²⁸ Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. ²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. ³¹ Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. ³³ When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

1.   BROUGHT THEM – TO THE COUNCIL V.26-27

2.   DON’T TEACH IN JESUS NAME V. 28

3.   THE APOSTLES’ RESPONSE V.30-32

4.   THE REACTION OF THE RULERS V. 33

WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MAN.

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LESSON 24

OPEN PERSECUTION BEGINS

Acts 5:17-25 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, ¹⁸ And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, ²⁰ Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. ²¹ And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told, ²³ Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. ²⁴ Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. ²⁵ Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

1.   THE HIGH PRIEST ROSE UP – V. 17-18

Ø  Sadducees – didn’t believe in the resurrection (so they’re “sad you see”)

Ø  Put the apostles in prison

2.   BUT…THE ANGEL OF THE LORD – V.19-20

Ø  Instructions to the apostles – “GO SPEAK IN THE TEMPLE THE WORDS OF THIS LIFE.”

3.   HIGH PRIEST CALLED THE COUNCIL TOGETHER – V. 21-24

Ø  Sent for apostles to be brought

Ø  Couldn’t find them

Ø  Wondered how this situation would grow

4.   APOSTLES FOUND IN THE TEMPLE TEACHING ABOUT JESUS – V. 25

WHEN PERSECUTION STARTS, GOD SHOWS HIS POWER IN GREATER WAYS.

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LESSON 23

1^ST CENTURY CHURCH ACTIVITY & GROWTH

Acts 5:12-16 King James Version (KJV)

¹² And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. ¹³ And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. ¹⁴ And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) ¹⁵ Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. ¹⁶ There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

 

Acts 5:12-16 Common English Bible (CEB)

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. They would come together regularly at Solomon’s Porch. ¹³ No one from outside the church dared to join them, even though the people spoke highly of them.¹⁴ Indeed, more and more believers in the Lord, large numbers of both men and women, were added to the church. ¹⁵ As a result, they would even bring the sick out into the main streets and lay them on cots and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow could fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Even large numbers of persons from towns around Jerusalem would gather, bringing the sick and those harassed by unclean spirits. Everyone was healed.

1.   SIGNS & WONDERS – V.12

2.   FEAR BECAUSE OF AN ACT OF GOD – V. 13

3.   MORE BELIEVERS ADDED – V. 14

4.   BROUGHT THE SICK & POSSESSED – V. 15-16a

5.   EVERYONE WAS HEALED – V. 16b

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LESSON 22

BE SURE YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT!

Acts 5:1-11 King James Version (KJV)

5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, ² And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. ³ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? ⁴ Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. ⁵ And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. ⁶ And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. ⁷ And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. ⁸ And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. ⁹ Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. ¹⁰ Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

1.   SOLD A POSSESSION V. 1-2

Ø  Kept back part

Ø  Wife agreed to this subterfuge

Ø  Brought part – as if this were the whole amount

2.   PETER QUESTIONS ANANIAS V. 3-4

3.   GAVE UP THE GHOST (SPIRIT) V. 5

4.   THREE HOURS LATER, WIFE LIES AND DIES V. 7-10

5.   GREAT FEAR ON THE WHOLE CHURCH V.11

GOD STILL HAS THIS POWER, BUT HIS MERCY SAVES US.

HOWEVER HE CAN STILL EXERCIZE THIS JUDGEMEN IF HE SEES IT NECESSARY.

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