Stephen Indicts His Judges

This rarely preached portion of Acts contains the longest single speech recorded in scripture. Stephen, understanding that he has been indicted on a charge of blasphemy consisting of speaking against the temple and against Moses answers the charges laid against him.

By the power of the Holy Spirit and with wisdom he makes clear that he holds a biblical view of both Moses and the temple. As he reaches the climactic point in his defence he deftly turns the charge of blasphemy back upon his accusers, declaring that they are descended, not from faithful Israel, but from the Israelites who persecuted and murdered the prophets, offering as evidence their murder of Jesus Christ.

This sermon follows the contours of Stephen's argument and makes the case that Stephen is declaring, as Paul will later declare, that obedience, not DNA, determines those who are truly the people of God.