Stephen

Reading Portion

Acts 6; 7

Lesson Content

1. Stephen was one of the seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, who were chosen to serve tables in the first century (Acts 6:1-6).

2. He was full of faith and power and did great wonders and miracles (Acts 6:8).

3. Falsely accused of blasphemy, he was caught and brought before the council (Acts 6:9-15).

4. The high priest’s query and Stephen’s exposition — He traced the history from Abraham to Jesus Christ (Acts 7:1-50).

5. He chided the stiffnecked and the uncircumcised in heart and ears who always resisted the Holy Ghost (Acts 7:51-53).

6. The violent reaction of those who heard Stephen (Acts 7:54).

7. The vision that he saw (Acts 7:55,56).

8. The people ran upon him with one accord, cast him out of the city and stoned him (Acts 7:57,58).

9. Stephen’s prayer and his death as a martyr (Acts 7:59,60).

Moral

We should pray for those who hate us and persecute us and thus we should overcome evil with good.