Stephen & the Reigning Christ

We owe much to Stephen because he sees through the hypocrisy of Israel, and of all Church practice that focusses on its institutions rather than on the God who gives them. As with all the speeches in Acts, Stephen must show the truth of what is happening from the Scripture. He uses Israel’s history to show that they have never understood either their Temple or their Law. God has regularly met Israel outside of their temple, and the real breakers of the law are not Christians but themselves. He also demonstrates that Israel consistently opposes the deliverers God gives them. In all this, the Spirit of Christ shines through and he becomes like his Saviour in praying for the forgiveness of his executioners.