GETTING STARTED
Stephen was a Greek-speaking, Jewish Christ-follower. He was full of grace and truth and had been doing great wonders and signs among the people. Because of this, he had been wrongly accused of speaking against holy things that the Jews held dear. Men conspired against him because they couldn’t face the truth to which he testified. In today’s passage, Stephen continues telling “his side of the story,” the history of Israel during their time in Egypt, to the Jewish leaders and crowd.
- Have you ever been misunderstood and conspired against? If so, did you get to tell your side of the story?
READ THE WORD: ACTS 7:9-16 (ESV)
9 “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, 16 and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
DIGGING DEEPER
- Recount Joseph’s story in your own words.
- In what way is there some similarity of Joseph’s story with Stephen’s?
- Though hard times came upon Joseph, how did God meet him and redeem the situation?
- Recall a time that God has been with you and sustained you during a difficult time. Let that reminder encourage you today that God’s presence and power is the same from age to age—he will always remain faithful to you.
RESPOND TO GOD
How ironic that Stephen was recounting the history of Joseph, a righteous man who was persecuted by jealous men who didn’t understand him, to his own persecutors. Do you wonder if the Jewish leaders’ hearts were not burning with conviction from God at their own hypocrisy? God was faithful to be with Joseph and empower him, even though he didn’t always take away every pain or injustice in his life. And God was with Stephen and empowered him as he was falsely accused and brought before the Jewish council. And so our faithful God offers his presence and power to us as well, for today and always.
- Where do you need the presence and power of God today? Take those needs to your Savior, with confidence that you will find mercy and grace to help in your time of need.
