Acts 7:9-43
Dear RTB’ers,
STS has Stephen’s long discourse broken down into three days’ readings. Yesterday, the first day was the introduction, going only as far as the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Today’s reading touches on Joseph and his deliverance of Israel (his father, Jacob and his brothers (Acts 7:9-16)), but is mostly focused on Moses (Acts 7:20-40). The third day, tomorrow will be the climax to which Stephen is building. After we read tomorrow, it would be good to go back to verse 2 and read Stephen’s entire sermon as a whole.
…this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer… (v.35b) and This man led them out, performing wonders and signs… (v. 36a) Stephen is building his case, clearly looking forward to Jesus in these two sentences. His “this man” in both sentences is referring to Moses, but it is also clear to Stephen that another “this Man”, Jesus, was doing the same things – ruling and redeeming and performing wonders and signs. And as Moses was rejected by his own people, so will Jesus also be rejected by the Jewish leaders.
So, tomorrow, the climax of these three days’ readings of Stephen’s sermon.
Blessings!