Acts - Week 4 / Tuesday

Reading for today: Acts 7:30-53

Stephen continues his defense against the accusations brought against him. He speaks at length about Moses, because Moses was the hero of the Sanhedrin. He reminds them of the covenant that God gave Moses, which is called the Law. But the people rejected this covenant, and in doing so, rejected God.

One of the idols mentioned in vs.43 is Moloch, which was a Venus god worshiped by the Ammonites. Moloch worshipers practiced infant human sacrifice. The other idol mentioned is Rephan, which was an Assyrian name for the planet Saturn. Not only did they reject God, but they turned their affections toward idols.

Stephen's main point in all this is that it was their fathers who rejected Moses and the Law, thereby rebelling against God. The fathers of Israel were the ones guilty of wanting to change the laws, customs, and teachings of Moses, not Stephen or Jesus. This was a direct answer to their accusations against him.

But Stephen obviously saw that his message was not being accepted. So, he calls them "stiff-necked" and "uncircumcised in heart and ears." This was a real slam to the Sanhedrin, which they were not about to let slide.

The truth was that these men who represented the Sanhedrin had already heard from Peter and John and others concerning the truth of the gospel, but they were actively resisting the Holy Spirit, just as their fathers had.

Was Stephen saying, "Like father, like son?" There is always a measure of truth in the old adage that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Fortunately for us, God is not limited by such adages. He can bring about a new creation that little resembles where it came from. Aren't we all glad for that?

Tomorrow: The first martyr is welcomed home